The European Defence Agency (EDA) is grappling with a significant challenge as the defence sector across the European Union faces a critical shortage of skilled workers. Despite generating around 581,000 jobs and a turnover of €158.8 billion in 2023, the industry struggles with labour and skills shortages. This situation, exacerbated by past underinvestment and a lack of sector attractiveness, poses a threat to the EU's defence capabilities and its new industrial strategy aimed at boosting military production.
The EDA's research highlights that digital skills, including artificial intelligence and machine learning, will be increasingly in demand in the coming years. The sector's shortage isn't limited to digital expertise; traditional skills such as welding, sheet metal fabrication, assembly, and project management are also in short supply. Industry representatives stress that beyond funding, the industry needs talent to thrive.
"Rapidly hiring a large number of specialised personnel is a significant challenge, especially in an already tense labour market," – ASD spokesperson
The EU's first-ever defence industrial strategy underscores that these shortages stem from historical underinvestment and a lack of appeal to potential workers. The invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has shifted public perception, underscoring the critical role of the defence industry in safeguarding society and democracy. Despite this, the industry continues to face recruitment challenges.
The EDA is actively fostering collaboration between industry, academia, and government to address these skill gaps. By working with national and European institutions, they aim to bridge existing gaps and boost production capabilities. Indra, a Spanish IT and defence systems company, and Leonardo, an aerospace giant, are key players in this effort.
"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," – Indra spokesperson
"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," – Leonardo spokesperson
Beyond recruitment, the EDA's research indicates that long-term guarantees on orders and investment are crucial for attracting staff. As technology evolves, the demand for new skill sets will rise, with some competencies currently scarce in the market.
"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," – Indra spokesperson
"Efforts are underway — including by industry — to address the skills issue, for example, through programs such as Assets+, an alliance for strategic skills in emerging defence technologies," – ASD spokesperson
Daniel Fiott from the Brussels Centre for Security, Diplomacy and Strategy highlights the urgency of addressing these challenges. He points out that Europeans have neglected the defence sector for decades, leading to a catch-up situation following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
"Europeans have neglected the defence sector for so many decades so governments, armed forces and industry are playing catch-up for over-investing in the peace dividend that existed in war until Russia invaded Ukraine," – Daniel Fiott
"The brutal reality is that Europe's defence sector is simply not ready for war. This needs to change, and fast," – Daniel Fiott
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