In Germany, a striking shift is underway: while companies like Volkswagen shed jobs, manufacturers of tanks and missiles are desperately seeking workers. Analysts from EY and DekaBank estimate that European NATO countries will pour €72 billion annually into defense, sustaining 680,000 jobs across the continent. If these nations meet NATO’s target of spending 2% of GDP on defense, a shortfall of 160,000 skilled workers could hit by 2030, according to Kearney’s research. Arms and radar producers are not only chasing talent but also snapping up production sites to handle an expected surge in orders. Hensoldt’s CEO, Oliver Dörre, highlighted how they’re benefiting from the automotive industry’s woes, luring workers from car parts suppliers, while KNDS repurposes an Alstom train factory. Yet, hiring isn’t easy—strict security vetting slows the process, says Hans Christoph Atzpodien from the Federal Association of Security and Defense Industries. Candidates from countries like Afghanistan, China, Iran, or Russia, or those with long stays there, face intense scrutiny.
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