The Defence & Security Vacancy Boom is subsiding but certainly not bursting...

-0%

Advertised vacancy demand reduction year-on year

Advertised vacancy demand has reduced 21% across the leading 26 Defence & Security organisations in the UK since October 2022 peak levels.

BAE continue to top the permanent recruitment demand advertising consistently between 480 and 520 vacancies since July 2023.

Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Airbus, Rolls Royce and Babcock all advertising significantly less than 12 months ago but still have significant demand across STEM skills.

0%

BAE year-on-year increase in vacancy numbers

-0%

Boeing year-on-year decrease in vacancy numbers

Advertised Vacancy Volume by company Oct 2022 and Oct 2023

UK Defence sector vacancies
Oct 2022
May 2023
% Change
BAE
313
480
+ 53%
Boeing
244
130
- 47%
Lockheed Martin
108
40
- 63%
Airbus
533
360
- 32%
MBDA
322
325
+ 1%
Leonardo
334
290
- 13%
Thales
214
219
+ 2%
Ultra
120
126
+ 5%
QinetiQ
314
278
- 11%
Raytheon
257
142
- 45%
Babcock
463
302
- 35%
Northrop Grumman
65
62
- 5%
L3Harris
79
60
- 24%
Roke Manor
76
82
+ 8%
Rolls Royce
200
75
- 63%

Data Insights are great but what is really happening?

Summer Holiday Season -

Demand has ebbed and flowed in line with seasonal expectations. We witnessed a slight dip throughout July and August due to administrative impacts from the holiday season which have recovered in September.

Efficient Advertising -

The impacts of more efficient recruiting are still impacting the data, more organisations are advertising fewer individual requirements but instead have multiple positions available.

Highest Demand Skills –

Skill demand varies greatly between organisations, but many continue to be significantly under-resourced in Systems Engineering, Software Development and Electronics Design.

So, whilst it may appear that the vacancy boom is subsiding, the demand continues at huge levels and competition remains fierce.

Welcome
Salaries