Employment supported by Ministry of Defence spending in weapons, ammunition and military fighting vehicle manufacturing rose from around 3,900 to 5,900 jobs in 2024/25, new government estimates show.
The number of UK jobs supported by defence spending in weapons, ammunition and military fighting vehicle manufacturing rose by around 51% in 2024/25, increasing by approximately 2,000 roles to 5,900, the UK Defence Journal understands.
The figures form part of the Ministry of Defence’s latest MOD-supported employment estimates and come as the Government seeks to expand domestic production of artillery ammunition, missiles and other weapons. The increase from roughly 3,900 to 5,900 jobs represents one of the sharper rises within the defence industrial figures, although the statistical category cited by the MOD combines weapons and ammunition manufacturing with military fighting vehicle production.
Across the wider defence economy, the Government estimates that MOD expenditure and the defence sector supported 26,000 more UK industry roles than in the previous year. The North West recorded nearly 4,000 additional jobs supported by defence expenditure, while the South East saw an increase of more than 3,000. The figures include both employment directly associated with defence activity and jobs supported through the wider supply chain.
The MOD says defence now accounts for or supports around 462,000 roles when Armed Forces personnel, civil servants and industry employment are considered together. The figures are estimates of employment associated with defence activity rather than a count of newly recruited MOD employees, and the geographical totals reflect the economic effects of defence expenditure across different parts of the UK.
The rise in weapons-related manufacturing employment comes as the Government attempts to rebuild what it describes as an “always on” sovereign munitions production capacity. The policy is intended to increase the ability of British industry to manufacture weapons such as artillery ammunition and missiles at sustained higher rates, rather than depending on production lines configured principally around smaller peacetime orders.
Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard said, as quoted in a news update: “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 employment increase comes alongside a broader expansion of planned defence industrial spending. The Defence Investment Plan commits £298 billion to UK defence over the next four years, with expenditure spanning munitions, shipbuilding, nuclear programmes and advanced technologies. How much of that expenditure ultimately flows to British manufacturing employment will depend on individual procurement decisions, supply-chain content and the pace at which planned programmes move into production.
The Government has placed particular emphasis on restoring domestic munitions capacity as European countries reassess stockpile requirements and the rate at which weapons could be consumed during a high-intensity conflict. Sustained production also affects the ability to replenish weapons supplied to allies and partners while maintaining sufficient stocks for Britain’s own forces.
The MOD separately points to the recently announced £8.4 billion commitment for the next generation of nuclear deterrent submarines, with the wider Defence Nuclear Enterprise supporting an estimated 47,000 jobs and more than 6,000 suppliers across the country. Shipbuilding, nuclear engineering and weapons production therefore account for distinct parts of the wider defence employment picture rather than a single manufacturing sector.
The 51% increase should consequently be read against the relatively small starting size of the weapons, ammunition and fighting vehicle category. An additional 2,000 supported jobs produces a large percentage rise, but the resulting total of 5,900 remains a small proportion of the 462,000 roles the Government associates with defence across the Armed Forces, Civil Service and industry.
