UK defence expenditure supported 274,000 direct and indirect industry jobs during 2024/25, an increase of 26,000 compared with the previous year.

When the Armed Forces and Ministry of Defence Civil Service are included, the UK’s total defence employment footprint reaches approximately 462,000 roles. That is close to one in every 60 UK jobs.

This growth does not mean that 26,000 vacancies are currently being advertised. The figures measure employment supported by Ministry of Defence expenditure across industry and its wider economic supply chain.

They do, however, show the scale of the industrial capacity behind the UK’s defence programmes and the long-term need for engineering, technical and project-delivery skills.

UK defence employment at a glance

• 274,000 direct and indirect industry jobs supported in 2024/25
• 26,000 year-on-year increase in supported industry employment
• 51% rise in weapons and ammunition manufacturing employment
• Nearly 4,000 additional direct roles in North West England
• 47,600 jobs supported by the Defence Nuclear Enterprise

The figures come from the Ministry of Defence’s supported employment estimates for 2024/25 and related employment announcement.

Which UK defence programmes are driving recruitment?

Demand is being shaped by several long-term programmes spanning defence nuclear, combat air, shipbuilding, infrastructure and advanced manufacturing.

Dreadnought and SSN-AUKUS submarines

The Dreadnought programme is delivering the Royal Navy’s next generation of ballistic missile submarines, while SSN-AUKUS will create a new class of conventionally armed, nuclear-powered attack submarines.

An £8.4 billion funding commitment is supporting the next phase of Dreadnought delivery, including construction and preparations for sea trials.

The work has a substantial regional footprint, including submarine construction at Barrow-in-Furness, nuclear propulsion activity in Derby and maintenance infrastructure in Plymouth.

The wider Defence Nuclear Enterprise supports an estimated 47,600 jobs and more than 6,000 companies. Workforce demand across the enterprise is forecast to reach approximately 65,000 roles by 2030.

This creates a sustained requirement across nuclear safety, systems engineering, mechanical and electrical design, welding, fabrication, manufacturing, testing and project controls.

Global Combat Air Programme

The Global Combat Air Programme, known as GCAP, brings the UK together with Japan and Italy to develop a next-generation combat aircraft.

The programme has moved into design and testing, supported by an £8.6 billion UK funding commitment over four years.

Its technical requirements extend beyond traditional aircraft engineering. GCAP involves digital design, artificial intelligence, autonomy, advanced sensors, mission systems and secure communications.

Important UK locations include Warton and Samlesbury in the North West, alongside Bristol and other supply-chain clusters across the country.

Type 26 and Type 31 frigates

Glasgow and Rosyth remain central to the UK’s naval shipbuilding capability.

The Type 26 programme is supporting manufacturing and assembly in Glasgow, with approximately 4,000 jobs safeguarded across Scotland and the wider UK supply chain.

At Rosyth, Babcock’s Type 31 programme supports approximately 1,250 direct roles and a further 1,250 supply-chain jobs. Multiple ships are progressing through different stages of construction, outfitting and testing.

Both programmes require naval architecture, marine engineering, systems integration, fabrication, welding, electrical installation, quality and programme management.

Defence manufacturing and munitions

Jobs supported across weapons, ammunition and military fighting vehicle manufacturing increased by 51% during 2024/25, reaching approximately 5,900 direct roles.

The increase forms part of the Government’s plan to rebuild sovereign manufacturing capability and establish a more resilient supply of munitions and critical equipment.

Investment is also changing the physical infrastructure behind defence manufacturing. Sheffield Forgemasters is carrying out a £1.3 billion recapitalisation programme, involving new facilities and equipment for high-integrity nuclear components.

The programme supports around 700 direct jobs and approximately 900 construction roles, with requirements spanning metallurgy, heavy machining, non-destructive testing, production planning and large-scale construction management.

Where are UK defence engineering jobs located?

Defence employment is distributed nationally, but several regions contain particularly strong clusters of programmes, employers and specialist capability.

The North West recorded the largest increase in direct defence-supported employment during 2024/25, adding nearly 4,000 roles.

Barrow-in-Furness alone has approximately 13,500 people supporting submarine delivery. Warton and Samlesbury provide established design, manufacturing and testing capability for combat air programmes.

Scotland combines shipbuilding on the Clyde and at Rosyth with nuclear operations at HM Naval Base Clyde. The Type 26 and Type 31 programmes support thousands of direct and supply-chain roles.

Plymouth and Bristol anchor the South West’s defence activity. Devonport supports submarine maintenance and major infrastructure programmes, while Bristol has a large concentration of systems, programme and engineering capability.

Which engineering skills are most in demand?

Publicly advertised vacancies provide only a partial view of the market, particularly where programmes are confidential or organisations fill requirements through existing supply chains.

However, the available evidence points towards recurring demand in five main areas.

Systems engineering and design

Systems engineers help ensure that mechanical, electrical, electronic and software components work together safely.

Requirements management, systems integration and model-based systems engineering are particularly relevant to complex air, land and maritime programmes. Employers may also look for experience with tools such as IBM DOORS, MATLAB and specialist systems-modelling software.

Digital engineering and technology

Software, cyber security, embedded systems, data engineering, secure communications and radio frequency engineering are becoming increasingly important.

These skills support connected platforms, electronic warfare, autonomous systems, digital twins and the secure exchange of information.

Manufacturing and production

Defence manufacturing requires production engineers, planners, welders, fabricators, machinists, materials specialists and automation professionals.

The work is often low-volume but highly complex, with rigorous requirements covering tolerances, traceability, quality and configuration control.

Safety, quality and assurance

Safety and quality professionals provide evidence that equipment, facilities and supply chains meet the standards required for their intended environment.

Relevant disciplines include product safety, nuclear safety, supplier quality, verification and validation, environmental engineering and configuration management.

Project delivery

Major programmes require project managers, planners, cost engineers, risk managers, commercial specialists and supply-chain professionals throughout their lifecycle.

The National Audit Office has identified shortages in technical, project-management and commercial skills as factors affecting the performance of major equipment contracts.

Can engineers transfer into defence from another sector?

Direct defence experience can be valuable, but it is not the only route into the sector.

Professionals from civil nuclear may bring experience in safety cases, regulatory compliance, high-integrity systems and nuclear-quality requirements.

Civil aerospace professionals may be familiar with systems integration, certification, aerodynamics, composite materials and controlled manufacturing.

Automotive and advanced-manufacturing experience can be relevant to automation, production engineering, process improvement, supply-chain controls and supplier quality.

Oil and gas professionals may offer experience in heavy fabrication, marine environments, complex commissioning and large engineering programmes.

The strongest applications do more than list technical skills. Candidates should explain how those skills were used in a safety-critical or highly regulated environment and how the experience relates to the defence requirement.

Additional programme knowledge, standards or security requirements may still need to be addressed before someone can move into a specific role.

Do candidates need security clearance before applying?

Candidates cannot obtain national security clearance independently. Clearance must be sponsored by an employer or government department.

Some permanent roles accept applications from people who are eligible to go through vetting after receiving an offer. Contract positions may be more likely to require existing clearance where someone must begin work quickly.

Requirements depend on the role, employer and sensitivity of the programme.

The main levels candidates may encounter include:

• BPSS: The Baseline Personnel Security Standard checks identity, nationality, employment history and criminal records. It is not a formal national security clearance.
• CTC: Counter Terrorist Check is used where roles involve access to sensitive sites, people or materials.
• SC: Security Check is commonly associated with roles involving access to secret information.
• DV: Developed Vetting is used for highly sensitive positions involving regular access to top-secret material.

The Government’s UK Security Vetting guidance explains the clearance levels and their general requirements.

Some vacancies also carry nationality or residency conditions. Candidates should check the wording carefully and should never describe an expired or previous clearance as active.

What should employers consider when recruiting?

Clearance, location and competition from other major programmes can lengthen the recruitment process.

Employers can improve their position by defining which requirements are genuinely essential and where comparable experience from another regulated sector may be acceptable.

Early workforce planning also creates time to consider permanent hiring, contract support, training and knowledge transfer as parts of one strategy.

Job information should be clear about:

• Salary or contract rate
• Location and expected site attendance
• Nationality and clearance requirements
• Technical responsibilities
• Project stage and expected duration
• Which sector backgrounds will be considered

This helps candidates assess the opportunity sooner and gives recruiters a clearer basis for approaching the right people.

Millbank’s perspective

The increase in defence-supported employment is encouraging, but workforce demand will not emerge uniformly across every programme.

A project in early design needs different experience from one entering manufacturing, construction or testing. Employers need to understand when those requirements will appear and how long specialist recruitment, vetting and mobilisation may take.

Candidates should not discount defence simply because their experience was gained elsewhere. Safety-critical engineering, high-integrity manufacturing, systems integration, project controls and commissioning can all provide credible routes into the sector when the experience is presented clearly.

For candidates: View Millbank’s current defence opportunities or submit your CV for consideration against suitable future roles.

For employers: If you are planning permanent or contract recruitment across a defence programme, contact Millbank to discuss your requirements.

Frequently asked questions

Which engineering skills are most in demand across UK defence?

Systems engineering, software, manufacturing, safety, quality and project-delivery skills appear regularly across UK defence programmes. Requirements differ by employer and project stage, with growing demand for digital engineering and model-based systems approaches.

Where are most UK defence engineering jobs located?

Strong clusters include Barrow-in-Furness, Warton and Samlesbury in the North West; Glasgow, Rosyth and Helensburgh in Scotland; and Plymouth, Bristol and Yeovil in the South West. Derby, Sheffield, Aldermaston and Portsmouth are also important locations.

Do I need security clearance before applying for a defence job?

Not always. Some employers sponsor eligible candidates for clearance after an offer, particularly for permanent positions. Other vacancies, especially urgent contract roles, may require active clearance from the outset.

Can nuclear engineers move into defence?

Nuclear engineers can bring relevant experience in safety cases, regulated environments, high-integrity systems, quality and complex project delivery. Suitability will still depend on the role, nationality conditions and security requirements.

Can manufacturing professionals transfer into defence?

Experience in production engineering, automation, precision manufacturing, quality, supply-chain management and process improvement can be relevant. Candidates should show how they have worked within controlled, traceable and safety-critical processes.

Are defence engineering jobs permanent or contract?

Both are available. Permanent recruitment helps programmes retain knowledge and build long-term capability, while contractors may provide specialist experience during design, manufacturing, construction and testing peaks.

What should I include on a defence engineering CV?

Focus on technical responsibilities, standards, project stages and measurable outcomes. State any active clearance accurately, but never include classified, restricted or client-confidential information.