In the coming years, billions of defense will be invested. The companies in the industry are in search of new staff – and are getting employees from the car industry. Important changes have been made lately in the German industry: while leading businesses such as Volkswagen are forced to dismiss hundreds of people, tanks and rocket manufacturers.

According to a recent EY and Dekabank survey, “NATO member states are going to invest in the coming years 72 billion euros in military equipment, thus creating 680,000 jobs in Europe.”

In a related study, the Kearney Counseling Company comes to similar conclusions. The number of jobs that will occur, of course, depends directly on the extent to which states will eventually invest in defense. If they invest 2% of their GDP, as provided by NATO, about 160,000 employees will need by 2030, and if they invest 2.5% or even 3%, the number of new jobs rise to 460,000 and 760,000 respectively.

Where will the workers be found?

Some defense industry businesses will not only need more labor hands, but also new locations for building factories.

And what is more convenient than turning these businesses to companies in other sectors that are currently facing serious problems? “We take advantage of the difficulties facing the automotive industry,” admits Oliver Dere, head of Hensoldt, one of the largest companies in the German defense industry. The company is already in contact with automotive businesses, such as Continental and Bosch, regarding the recruitment of employees.

In Gerlitz, East Germany, next to the border with Poland, KNDS, also a leadership in the defense industry, is taking an Alstom factory, a rail transport car accident manufacturing company – and along with half of the 700 employees. The new production line at the factory is expected to start this year.

The transition from a commercial industry to that of defense is not a simple affair, as Eva Brickner, director of Heinrich & Coll Counseling, explains to DW. of Munich: “Such a transition is only possible in specific positions and specialties.” Employees in factories such as Volkswagen or other automotive companies “are usually able to work for some defense industry businesses.” In other parts of business, however, the transition is difficult, even impossible – as is the case with those who work in sales departments.

Defense industry has peculiarities

Hans Christoff Atchpodien, head of the German Union for the Security and Defense Industry, specifically refers to a significant specificity of defense industry companies: for many employees security checks are mandatory – and they are often time. The acquisition of the necessary licenses takes time “and therefore it is difficult to move the rapid transition of workers” from one industry to another, Achpodiene points out to DW.

In the defense industry there is the so -called list of states, which sets high standards for stakeholders who may be a risk to Germany’s security. In the list of the German interior ministry, countries such as Afghanistan, China, Vietnam, Iraq, Iran, Syria, Russia and the once Soviet states are on the list of the interior ministry. Even the stay of one in one of these countries for a longer period is considered problematic for the subsequent employment of this person to companies related to the defense industry and security.

Will the solution come from the US?

In Germany and Europe alone, it is therefore difficult to find the necessary specialized employees, as well as the people who will staff open administrative positions in defense industry businesses.

But here the solution can be found … From the opposite bank of the Atlantic. “Since Trump has begun cuts at research institutes and universities, there is an opportunity for Europe,” Eva Brickner points out. Until now, the US, with its top universities and huge research budgets, has attracted the spacecraft from the whole world. But this is now changing “and Europe has the opportunity to present it as an innovative power – and thus attract the workforce”.

Seered employees with… discretion

Brickner is convinced that the industry must move in new directions. Find for example more women in the highest levels of the defense industry. They are also necessary “people who are discreet. Those who avoid talking a lot and openly about their work ” – an element necessary for the defense and security industry.

At the same time in this industry, which has been primarily proportional for years, a more intense shift towards digitization – hence companies, are looking for more intense people specializing in artificial intelligence and big data.

It is certain, however, that this turn will cost more money. “I am sure that even in the part of employee earnings, businesses should put their hand deeper into the pocket,” Brickner concludes.

Curated by: George Passas