Geo-political tensions are at their highest level in over a decade...
...yet demand for skills from UK Defence & Security organisations is at it’s lowest since COVID.
Read on to find out why this is, how this will change through 2025, and how can you gain the edge on your 2025 hiring goals.
Primes are disproportionately busy
Advertised vacancy volume from 30 leading Defence & Security organisations
lower current vacancy volume when compared to peak demand in Winter 2022.
of current vacancy demand is from a collective of 5 Primes, compared to:
in Winter 2022 where these 5 primes made up just 44% of the vacancy demand
Data is great, but what is happening in reality?
Since the anticipation grew for a UK General Election early in 2024, there has been a continued decline of resource demand across the Defence & Security enterprise. This is largely due to an expected Strategic Defence Review and a slow-down of new bids being awarded.
Subsequently, the transition to the new government and delay to complete the SDR has led to inertia across the sector, outside of the large capital expenditure programmes predominantly in the Naval platforms and Missile/Missile Defence Technology domains.
Matchtech – Your canary in the coal mine perspective
At Matchtech, with our leading talent attraction capability and position in the UK Defence & Security sector, we continue to see a steady flow of vacancy demand across permanent and contract hiring in the UK. Much of this is driven by some of our relationships with Primes where we continue to support multi-decade programmes with engineering and technology talent.
How will this change throughout 2025?
The second half of 2025 will largely be driven by the outputs of the SDR and release of the Defence Industrial Strategy. We now know some of the common themes will be:
Investment in:
- Missile Defence
- Drone Technology
- Electronic Warfare
- AI Technology
- Munitions re-stocking
With focus on:
- Skills development
- Improving SME engagement
- Maximising AI Technology to accelerate and advance.
So what?
What does this mean for you...?
The critical, harder to fill positions will become even more challenging and take longer to fulfil.
Increased opportunity and demand for great talent will create an increasingly competitive landscape which is likely to increase attrition risk.
Expect more competition to secure great talent, as opportunity increases, the best talent will enjoy more job offer options to select from.
A strategic approach to workforce planning will be key in 2025. By using contractors wisely and partnering with agencies who deliver and stay accountable, you can ease pressure on your hiring and get ahead before the market gets busy.
A strategic approach to workforce planning will be key in 2025. By using contractors wisely and partnering with agencies who deliver and stay accountable, you can ease pressure on your hiring and get ahead before the market gets busy.