Overview

• Labor-market expert Enzo Weber forecasts a sustained expansion of the German arms sector over the coming years.
• Weber cites secured financing via the debt-brake exception, with an IAB-involved study estimating up to 200,000 jobs if spending rises from 2% to 3% of GDP using debt.
• Rheinmetall reports applicant numbers climbing from about 59,000 in 2021 to 175,000 in 2024, with 120,000 in the first half of 2025 and roughly 500 hires per month this year.
• Diehl says it hired more than 1,000 people in 2024 and expects similar hiring through 2026, while supplier Renk plans workforce growth but notes efficiency gains cut staffing needs versus 2023 plans.
• The core defense manufacturing base counts roughly 17,000 direct jobs, so broader industrial renewal will require targeted policy, though Weber sees conversion potential for auto-industry workers with tailored training and placement.