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Jobs supported by Britain’s weapons and ammunition manufacturing sector have increased by 51 per cent in a year, as rising defence spending accelerates efforts to rebuild the UK’s sovereign munitions industry and strengthen national warfighting readiness.
The number of UK jobs supported by defence spending in weapons and ammunition manufacturing rose 51 per cent during FY2024–25 according to new Ministry of Defence figures.
The increase forms part of a broader expansion in defence-related employment, with the UK defence sector now supporting around 462,000 roles across the Armed Forces, industry and the Civil Service. Defence-supported employment increased by 26,000 positions year-on-year.
Weapons, ammunition and military fighting vehicle manufacturing accounted for 2,000 of those additional jobs, taking employment in the sector to 5,900.
The UK government said the growth reflects its push to rebuild a sovereign, “always on” munitions production base capable of supplying critical capabilities such as artillery and missiles at greater scale.
The north-west recorded almost 4,000 additional defence-related roles during the year, while the south-east gained more than 3,000.
Defence Readiness and Industry Minister Luke Pollard said increased defence spending was simultaneously strengthening military readiness and supporting economic growth. “These figures show that a rising defence budget is creating more good jobs across the UK,” Minister Pollard said. “Defence is an engine for growth and our investments are driving reindustrialisation.”
The government’s broader industrial push includes an £8.4 billion ($15.9 billion) investment in the next generation of nuclear submarines, supporting an estimated 47,000 jobs and more than 6,000 suppliers across the UK Defence Nuclear Enterprise.
Further growth is expected under the UK’s Defence Investment Plan, which committed £298 billion ($567.4 billion) to defence over the next four years. The plan is intended to sustain investment across munitions, shipbuilding and advanced technologies while strengthening domestic industrial capacity.
The expansion comes as Britain seeks to reduce reliance on overseas supply chains and ensure critical weapons can be produced continuously during periods of heightened demand or conflict.
For the UK defence industry, the surge in employment represents more than an increase in manufacturing capacity. It signals a broader attempt to reconnect defence spending with domestic industrial capability, regional economic development and long-term national resilience.
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