The Aerospace and Defense World of Work
As we head into the second quarter of 2026, the aerospace and defense sector remains in a period of major expansion, driven by
increasing military defense budgets among the most powerful governments in the world. Ongoing geopolitical conflicts in Europe
and the Middle East, and massive development in Asia Pacific, are leading many countries to accelerate modernization efforts
to protect themselves from uncertain threats.
In this report, the Work Intelligence Lab will examine the current state of employment in the global aerospace and defense industry, focusing
specifically on technical candidate recruitment and retention, challenges to the industry’s longstanding approach to talent, and the strategies
leaders must deploy today to ensure a healthy pipeline of technical talent through the second quarter of the 21st century.
Mission 2030
Combat the manufacturing stigma
Although aerospace and defense careers are literally "rocket science," the manufacturing sector still suffers from an image problem.
Develop external partnerships
While a handful of the larger aerospace and defense companies and some government agencies have instant name recognition among candidates, many organizations do not, and this makes it difficult to recruit at scale.
Source specialized talent flexibly
Recruitment and onboarding speed is a current weakness of the aerospace and defense sector.
Want the full picture? These are just a few insights from our latest report on The Aerospace and Defense World of Work. Download now to discover what’s really happening - and how to stay ahead.
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