The picture is strong and getting stronger. MOD expenditure with industry supported a total of 272,000 direct jobs in 2023/24, an increase of 11% compared to the previous financial year, according to the MOD supported employment estimates for 2023/24 on GOV.UK. That follows the previous year, when the total number of MOD-supported UK jobs reached 239,000 in 2022/23, an increase of 6% on the year before, as reported in the MOD supported employment estimates for 2022/23 on GOV.UK.
Recruitment is rising too. The defence sector continued to be an attractive employer, with surveyed recruitment growing by 17.8% in 2022, according to GOV.UK reporting on the defence sector's contribution to the UK economy. For anyone weighing up where the stable, future-focused work sits, those numbers answer the question.
Fresh investment is a big part of the story. More than 1,700 new jobs are being created across the UK defence sector following at least £1.4 billion in foreign direct investment committed since July 2024, according to GOV.UK reporting on the defence dividend. That spread of new jobs covers engineering, cyber and software, systems and manufacturing, and the project and compliance roles that keep programmes moving.
These are the roles that most often come with sponsored study. Employers fund apprenticeships, degree-level qualifications and professional accreditations because the skills they need take time to build, and security clearance means they want to keep people for the long term. For the person, that means earning while learning and climbing into higher-skilled work. For the employer, it is a direct way to close a skills gap you cannot simply buy in.
Start with the whole offer, not just the title. Sponsored study, a clear route to clearance and a visible progression path matter as much as the day-one duties, especially when demand is this high. Spell out which qualifications you fund and how study time works, because that is often what tips a decision.
Then move quickly and fairly. Clearance and competition both slow things down, so a tight, transparent process keeps good people from drifting elsewhere. Be specific about what each role needs, assess for potential as well as proof, and keep people informed at every step. In a growing sector, the employers who communicate best tend to win the hire.
We help you find the right person and manage recruitment end to end. We search a database of 15 million candidates, rank a shortlist for you and keep the process moving so your defence roles, sponsored study and all, reach the people most likely to stay and grow. Our recruitment agent manages recruitment end to end for 8% on a successful hire, with no monthly fee and no upfront cost. Ready to open your next defence role with Reed.ai? Let's find the right person together.
