Ministry of Defence spending with industry in Scotland supported 12,200 direct jobs in 2024/25, an increase of 800 on the previous year, according to official statistics published on Friday.
The department spent £2.16 billion with Scottish industry over the period, equivalent to £390 per person, directly supporting 560 jobs for every 100,000 people in full time employment, up from 520 in the preceding twelve months.
Counting civilian and military posts alongside industry roles, the figures record 26,300 jobs in Scotland supported by MOD expenditure, comprising 12,200 direct industry jobs, 4,050 civilian staff and 10,010 service personnel.
Shipbuilding and submarines dominate the industrial figure at 7,900 jobs, up from 6,700 a year earlier, a rise of nearly 18 per cent. Other construction accounts for 800, with weapons and ammunition at 200 and aircraft and spacecraft also at 200.
Douglas Alexander, the Scottish Secretary, said: “Scotland’s defence sector is a powerhouse of innovation and expertise and, as these figures clearly show, it is also a key driver for economic growth in Scotland, with the Ministry of Defence spending £2.16 billion a year here directly supporting 12,200 jobs.
“Through historic levels of funding, the UK Government is delivering a real defence dividend for Scotland. From investing in naval shipbuilding expertise on the Clyde and at Rosyth, to our nuclear deterrent and submarine support at Faslane, to our world-leading strengths in cyber, space, advanced radar and electronic warfare, we are supporting thousands of jobs and opening exciting career pathways for young Scots.”
Luke Pollard, Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, 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.”
Across the United Kingdom, MOD expenditure with industry totalled £31.9 billion in 2024/25, supporting 274,000 jobs.
The department points to several commitments underpinning the Scottish figures. The Defence Investment Plan confirmed £26 billion for naval base infrastructure including £15.1 billion to regenerate HM Naval Base Clyde, while the £10 billion Type 26 deal with Norway is expected to sustain over 2,000 jobs and support more than 100 Scottish businesses, over 50 of them small and medium-sized enterprises.
The statistics measure jobs supported by MOD expenditure within Scotland, a different measure from the population-based allocation of defence spending used in the Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland figures published last week.
There are 137,000 full time military personnel in the UK and the defence industry lists 181,000 people employed in the UK
So with 8% of the population Scotland should have around 25,000 not 12,000
This suggest that Scotland has half the defence jobs it should have.