Protecting our critical national asset: the defence workforce

Employment in the UK’s defence sector increased 16 per cent between 2013 and 2023. Providing immense social value, the contribution of our defence sector to the economy spans not only direct capability, protection of the realm and technological innovation, but housing, jobs, and local investment. The UK’s defence and security sectors drive technological innovation, whether that’s contributing to the science behind the gadgets we use in our every-day lives or providing the investment for the next generation of green technologies that will be vital in helping us reach our net zero targets. 

Growing global competition, proliferating international security challenges, and the rapid pace of technological development are challenges that our sector must address. That said, all of the opportunities or setbacks are found in the face of the most critical of hurdles: the need for the right talent to fulfil demand and secure UK advantage in an increasingly unstable geopolitical environment. In fact, two thirds (66 per cent) of respondents to an ADS survey said that workforce and skills shortages will have a significant impact on business growth opportunities.