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The number of UK jobs supported by defence spending in weapons and ammunition manufacturing rose by 51 per cent in 2024/25, according to new Ministry of Defence figures.
The increase came as the number of UK industry jobs supported by Ministry of Defence expenditure rose by 26,000 over the financial year.
The North West recorded nearly 4,000 additional direct jobs, while the South East gained more than 3,000.
The latest MOD employment estimates show that UK defence supports 462,000 roles across the Armed Forces, industry and the Civil Service.
Jobs linked to the manufacture of weapons, ammunition and military fighting vehicles increased by around 2,000 to 5,900.
The increase comes as the government seeks to expand domestic munitions production and establish an “always on” supply pipeline.
The policy is intended to increase the UK’s capacity to manufacture critical capabilities, including artillery ammunition and missiles, at greater scale.
Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard 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.”
The increase in defence-supported employment includes direct manufacturing roles and indirect jobs across the wider supply chain.
It follows an £8.4 billion government commitment to the UK’s next generation of nuclear submarines. The Defence Nuclear Enterprise supports around 47,000 jobs and more than 6,000 suppliers across the UK.
Further investment is planned under the Defence Investment Plan, which commits £298 billion to UK defence over the next four years.
The spending covers areas including munitions, shipbuilding and advanced technology as the government seeks to increase domestic defence production and military readiness.
