Europe’s defence industry is facing an urgent need for skilled workers as it struggles to meet the increasing demands of modern warfare and technological advancements. Industry representatives highlight the growing difficulty in finding qualified personnel to fill vital roles across the sector.
The European defence sector’s struggle isn’t just about funding—it’s about the expertise needed to sustain growth and innovation, according to industry insiders.
“This is certainly one of the periods impacted by the most intense search for new hires in Leonardo’s history, even more intense than in previous conflicts,” the Italian-based aerospace, defence and security company Leonardo told Euronews in a statement, referring to the war in Iraq or the conflict in Afghanistan.
This shortage of staff and skilled workers is not unique to Leonardo, but is a “shared concern” across Europe’s defence sector. National and European institutions are working together to find solutions to bridge these skill gaps and enhance production capabilities.
“The Aerospace, Defence and Security industry in Europe, and even more so countries like Italy and the UK – two of Leonardo’s home markets – are experiencing increasing difficulties in matching workforce demand with the right skill mix,” Leonardo added. “Rapidly hiring a large number of specialised personnel is a significant challenge, especially in an already tense labour market,” a spokesperson of the Aerospace and Defence Industries Association of Europe (ASD) also stressed.
Leonardo, which employs 53,000 people globally, emphasized that the issue is not only conflict-driven but also stems from the rapid evolution and integration of digital technologies in the industry.
With defence now deeply involved in developing cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data, advanced analytics, and quantum technologies, the sector is facing stiff competition from major tech companies to secure top-tier talent.
“As technology continues to evolve, the demand for new skills sets will inevitably increase (and) some of these competencies may currently be scarce in the market,” a spokesperson for Indra, a Spanish information technology and defence systems company, told Euronews.
Geopolitical factors also impact the recruitment process, particularly because the aerospace and defence sector is deeply tied to political and strategic alliances. It is “impossible” for large companies to recruit from countries that have a highly skilled workforce but are not aligned with political and strategic partnerships, noted another industry representative. To address this, companies are focusing on developing internal talent by offering training programs, mentoring, and hands-on experience.
“Various recruitment strategies are being explored, including attracting talent from other EU countries willing to relocate to Spain and establishing local teams in other regions with the necessary competencies to support international projects,” says the Indra spokesperson, whose company has a global presence with 57,000 employees across 46 countries.
In 2023, the EU defence sector generated approximately 581,000 jobs and a turnover of €158.8 billion. Projections suggest these numbers will continue to rise as the continent focuses on rearming to ensure peace and security in a multipolar world.
To address the challenges, the EU is relying on its first-ever defence industrial strategy, aiming to boost military production within the bloc. However, manufacturers are urging the EU to provide more long-term guarantees regarding orders and investments, which would also help to attract and retain skilled workers.
The 2024 strategy acknowledges that the industry’s labour and skills shortages are the result of previous underinvestment in defence programs and a general lack of attractiveness in the sector. The European Defence Agency (EDA) confirmed that it is actively addressing the skills gap by fostering collaboration between industry, academia, and government.
According to EDA research, digital skills such as AI and machine learning will be crucial in the coming years. Additionally, professionals with expertise in autonomy engineering, cybersecurity, data processing, and software design will be among the most sought-after in the defence sector.
