Fri, 02 Jan 2026

Fri, 02 Jan 2026 How the defence sector is battling a skills crisis

Attracting younger workers into the defence industry can be challenging.

*The government's plan to make the defence sector a growth engine for the economy could be hampered by the lack of skilled workers.
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*Ethical concerns about working on lethal technology are contributing to the skills gap, with many graduates opting out of defence careers.
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*The industry is trying to address its branding issues and is working to attract young technologists who want to work in cutting-edge roles.
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*Historic over-reliance on ex-military personnel and a perceived conservative image may be off-putting to younger recruits.
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*Companies like Thales are trying to change this by upskilling existing employees, bringing in career switchers, and working with universities and colleges to ensure the skills they need are being taught.
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