British weapons jobs rise by more than 50% in a year as defence investment strengthens UK industry
UK weapons and ammunition manufacturing jobs rose 51% in 2024/25, part of a wider 26,000 increase in defence-supported roles nationwide.
- Jobs supported by defence expenditure in weapons and ammunition manufacturing rose by 51% in 2024/25.
- Overall year-on-year increase of 26,000 UK industry roles, including nearly 4,000 direct additional jobs in the North West, as investment reaches every corner of the country.
- Part of government’s work to rebuild the nation’s homegrown munitions manufacturing capability, boosting defence readiness and the re-industrialisation of Britain.
Thousands more people across the UK are working in weapons and ammunition manufacturing, with new figures showing a 51% rise in defence-supported jobs in the sector in just 12 months.
The Ministry of Defence’s employment estimates, which cover the 2024/25 financial year, point to jobs boosts across the country backed by MOD expenditure, with the North West seeing nearly 4,000 additional roles year-on-year and the South East benefitting from more than 3,000 extra jobs over the same time period.
The figures show that UK defence now comprises 462,000 roles across the Armed Forces, industry, and the Civil Service. They demonstrate how the Government is making defence an engine for growth, with increased investment creating jobs and opportunities in communities across the country to raise living standards and put more money in working people’s pockets.
The 2,000 additional jobs, reaching 5,900 total, related to the manufacture of weapons, ammunition and military fighting vehicles also reflects the government’s drive to rebuild a sovereign, “always on” pipeline of munitions supply, so that critical capabilities, such as artillery and missiles, can be produced at greater scale in the UK.
Building this domestic capability is central to strengthening the UK’s warfighting readiness and deterring threats while creating skilled manufacturing jobs.
Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard MP said:
These figures show that a rising defence budget is creating more good jobs across the UK. Defence is an engine for growth and our investments are driving reindustrialisation. As we increase our military readiness and capabilities we are generating good well-paid jobs nationwide.
The rise in weapons and ammunition jobs forms part of a wider picture of expansion in defence-related employment across the UK, which has seen a year-on-year increase of 26,000 roles, spanning both direct roles in manufacturing and indirect jobs in the wider supply chain. The increase underlines defence as an engine for growth and the move towards a resilient industrial base, proving that investment in the UK’s security is investment in the UK’s prosperity.
The news follows recent announcement of an £8.4 billion commitment to advance the UK’s next generation nuclear submarines, in a boost for the 47,000 jobs and over 6,000 suppliers across the UK supported by the Defence Nuclear Enterprise.
The growth in defence-supported roles is set to accelerate further under the Defence Investment Plan, which commits £298 billion to UK defence over the next four years. The plan will drive sustained investment in British industry, from munitions and shipbuilding to advanced technology, ensuring the UK’s defence sector remains a cornerstone of the country’s economic renewal.