Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide
  • Home
  • /
  • Defence
  • /
  • JEDHub reports on growth of defence's contribution to UK economy

Defence

JEDHub reports on growth of defence's contribution to UK economy

The Joint Economic Data Hub (JEDHub) report published today shows growth in defence sector employment, recruitment and revenue.

Image copyright Shutterstock

New figures show the growth and success of the UK defence industry, with growth in defence sector jobs and strong investment in research and development.

This new report by the Joint Economic Data Hub (JEDHub) on the defence sector’s contribution to the UK economy comes a week after the Prime Minister and Defence Secretary announced the biggest rise in defence spending in a generation and reiterates a 69.9% increase in UK defence exports, increasing from £6.6 billion in 2021 to £11.2 billion in 2022.

Advertisement
DSEI 2025

The report demonstrates both the contribution of the defence sector to the UK and the important role international trade makes to its success, with over a third of turnover coming from international sources in 2022.

The report shows the defence sector continues to be an attractive employer, with surveyed recruitment growing by 17.8% in 2022. Of the c. 84,000 surveyed defence Full Time Equivalent (FTEs)  employed across the UK, it is estimated that c. 54,000 were supported by defence domestic revenue in 2022 and c. 30,000 jobs by international revenue.

The JEDHub is a collaborative initiative between the UK Defence Solutions Centre (UKDSC) and the Ministry of Defence (MoD), supported by other government departments, industry and academia to improve understanding of the defence sector’s contribution to the UK economy.

This year’s report comprises analysis informed by the survey response of 22 UK defence companies as well as data from other sources including the Office for National Statistics.

The latest JEDHub report provides additional insight into defence Research and Development (R&D) investment, which accounted for 60.5% of R&D activity within surveyed companies in 2022. This equates to an investment of £842 million of which industry R&D funded initiatives accounted for £171.2 million, an increase on the previous year with £112.4 million.

Advertisement
ODU RT

The UK government remains the largest source of R&D funding, accounting for 69.8% since 2020. This demonstrates the importance the Government has placed om developing the future of the defence sector. Earlier this week Prime Minister Rishi Sunak launched a plan to steadily increase defence spending, including research and development, to 2.5% of GDP by the end of the decade – reaching £87 billion a year in 2030.

Kevin Craven, Chief Executive of ADS, said: "Through the collaboration between the Ministry of Defence, UK Defence Solutions Centre and industry, the JEDHub third annual economic report published today shows the significant regional growth of our defence sector.

"This industry is seeing a great increase in both high valued skills and jobs with the median average salary being 33% above the manufacturing average. This shows the defence industry’s essential contribution to the prosperity of the UK."

At a regional level, the report highlights the Northwest of England as an epicentre for defence employment with 31.5% of the surveyed workforce located there.

The report illustrates an 8% increase in domestic revenue reaching £13.8 billion in 2022. £12.3 billion of this was from sales to the UK MoD, demonstrating an increase of 8.9% from 2021 and underlines the enduring importance of MoD as the largest defence customer to the industry.

Advertisement
PTC PTC
BAE Systems awarded US Army M777 structures contract

Defence

BAE Systems awarded US Army M777 structures contract

17 April 2025

BAE Systems has been awarded a contract by the US Army for M777 lightweight howitzer major structures, worth $162 million.

M Group acquires Telent

Defence Security

M Group acquires Telent

16 April 2025

M Group has aquired Telent, a provider of operational technology and digital solutions for Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) across the UK and Ireland.

Serco to support US Navy’s Guided Missile Frigates and ship systems

Defence

Serco to support US Navy’s Guided Missile Frigates and ship systems

16 April 2025

Serco announced today that it has retained its contract to provide technical services to modernise the US Navy’s Guided Missile Frigates and ship systems.

DASA launches Phase Two of Innovation in Support of Operations competition

Defence

DASA launches Phase Two of Innovation in Support of Operations competition

16 April 2025

The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) has launched Phase Two of its fast paced Themed Competition Innovation in Support of Operations.

Advertisement
ODU RT
QinetiQ selected as awardee on US Army

Defence

QinetiQ selected as awardee on US Army's PD Aerostats MATOC

16 April 2025

QinetiQ US has been selected as an awardee on the US Army's $4 billion Multiple Award Task Order Contract (MATOC) under the US Army Product Director (PD) Aerostats programme.

UK and US complete major hypersonic weapons test programme

Defence

UK and US complete major hypersonic weapons test programme

15 April 2025

UK hypersonic research, which could see weapons travelling at several thousand miles per hour, has reached a landmark moment after successful completion of a major testing programme.

Advertisement
ODU RT