Overview

• Enzo Weber of the IAB forecasts a durable expansion of Germany’s defense sector, framing the current rise as a long-term trend.
• A study involving the IAB estimates up to 200,000 additional jobs if debt-financed defense outlays rise from about 2% to 3% of GDP.
• Rheinmetall reports German applications jumping from roughly 59,000 in 2021 to 175,000 in 2024 and says it has been hiring about 500 employees per month this year.
• Diehl says it hired more than 1,000 people in 2024 and expects similar hiring through 2026, while Renk plans to expand headcount but with fewer roles than first envisaged due to efficiency gains.
• Weber notes defense job postings are rising as other industry listings fall, highlights retraining potential for auto-sector workers, and puts core defense employment at about 17,000 people.