Spanish Defense Industry Seeks 350,000 Specialists with Salaries Starting at €80,000. Spain's defense sector faces an urgent need for qualified personnel: in the next few years, it will have to replace hundreds of thousands of employees retiring. The average salary in the industry exceeds €80,000, but finding the required specialists is becoming increasingly difficult.
Spain’s defense industry will need about 350,000 new employees in the coming years, according to a recent UGT FICA report presented at an industry forum in Manresa. The reason is not only increased demand amid international conflicts, but also a massive wave of retirements: nearly 240,000 experienced workers are expected to leave the sector within a decade.
The report states that the average annual salary in Spain's defense industry already exceeds €80,000—more than twice that of the services sector. However, even such attractive conditions do not solve the main problem: the industry needs not just workers, but highly skilled technical specialists.
Staff shortage
The war between Russia and Ukraine, as well as instability in the Middle East, has drawn greater attention to security and defense issues. Europe's military budgets have surged, placing Spanish companies at the center of a new race for engineering and digital talent. Competition for STEM specialists (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) has intensified: Spanish firms now have to compete with large European corporations for professionals.
Who is in demand
The highest demand is for engineers, aerospace technology specialists, experts in electronics, cybersecurity, modeling, and satellite systems. Digital experts and professionals with specialized technical education are also important. Ordinary industrial experience is not enough: employers expect deep expertise and the ability to work with cutting-edge technology.
Impact on the labor market
Currently, the defense industry provides about 36,000 direct jobs, another 37,000 indirectly, plus 15,000 thanks to related economic effects. Thus, the sector’s impact goes far beyond factory floors: defense drives demand for skilled labor, supports technological development, and strengthens Spain’s position in European strategic autonomy.
How to enter the industry
For those considering a career in the defense industry, experts recommend focusing on engineering and digital fields, as well as advanced training programs in aerospace, electronics, and cyber sectors. A high salary is only part of the appeal: the key factors are the level of expertise and willingness to keep learning.
According to UGT FICA, the skills gap could become one of the sector’s main problems in the coming years. If the trend continues, Spain risks missing out on some defense contracts and technological initiatives, which could affect the entire national economy.
