The number of people employed in defence-supported roles in Wales has increased by more than a thousand in a single year, according to the latest UK Government figures. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) employment estimate shows the total rose from 3,900 to 4,900 between 2023/24 and 2024/25, a rise of more than a quarter.
Across the UK as a whole, defence now comprises 462,000 roles spanning the Armed Forces, industry, and the civil service. The increase in Wales was driven in part by a surge of 400 roles in the weapons and ammunitions sector.
Wales Office Minister welcomes growth
Wales Office Minister Anna McMorrin said: "I am proud of Wales’s contribution to strengthening the UK’s national security. With 1,000 additional Welsh jobs supported by the MOD in 2024 to 2025, the UK Government is helping to grow the Welsh defence sector, building on our existing talent and expertise and bringing about good well-paid jobs of the future."
Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard MP 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."
Weapons and ammunition roles drive expansion
The rise in weapons and ammunition jobs forms part of a wider picture of expansion in defence-related employment across the UK, which has seen a year-on-year increase of 26,000 roles, spanning both direct roles in manufacturing and indirect jobs in the wider supply chain.
The MoD maintains a significant footprint in Wales, spending more than £1 billion annually with industry in the region, including £42 million with SMEs. Wales is home to Brecon and Cawdor Army Barracks, as well as RAF Valley and HMS Cambria. A number of key defence strategic suppliers have established locations across Wales, including General Dynamics, Airbus, Thales UK and BAE Systems.
Future investment and revised statistics
The growth in defence-supported roles is set to accelerate further under the defence investment plan, which commits £298bn to UK defence over the next four years.
Better quality data has seen revisions made to the 2023/24 statistics, which previously stated 463,000 total UK defence jobs. The updated figure for 2023/24 is 439,000 jobs, now increasing to 462,000 in 2024/25.
Similarly, better quality data has seen revisions to the 2023/24 statistics, which previously stated 272,000 direct and indirect UK industry roles. The updated figure for 2023/24 is 248,000 jobs, now increasing to 274,000 in 2024/25.
