Poland’s defence industry is now one of the fastest-growing segments of the economy, and in 2026 it is expected to receive another boost from the European SAFE programme, which will increase the scale of orders and projects carried out by domestic companies. Market data already points to record growth dynamics—across the defence budget, company revenues, and employment. The labour market is responding with hundreds of new job postings, while employers are attracting candidates with competitive pay and extensive benefits packages.
According to the report “The Defence Market in Poland in 2024” prepared by FinancialCraft Analytics, Poland ranked 13th in the world in terms of defence budget size. In 2024, defence spending totalled approximately USD 38 billion, equivalent to around 1.4% of global defence outlays. The pace of growth is among the highest worldwide—in 2023 the budget increased by 72.2%, followed by a further 44.3% in 2024. Compared with 2022, this represents an increase of more than 2.5 times in just two years.
Revenues in Poland’s domestic defence industry are rising as well. In 2024, they reached nearly PLN 22.3 billion, marking a 47% year-on-year increase. Moreover, since 2022, sector-wide sales have grown by a combined 171%, with an average annual growth rate over the past three years of approximately 39%.
Employment is growing. Hundreds of job offers
The largest player remains Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ), accounting for around 53% of the market, alongside a strong private-sector presence that already generates 46% of the industry’s value. Across PGZ Group companies, headcount increased from 17,244 in 2021 to 19,649 in 2024, i.e., by 14%. In 2024 alone, employment rose by 4.1%, with new hires including both blue-collar workers (57%) and white-collar employees (43%). The private sector is expanding just as dynamically: the 22 largest private companies employ more than 14,000 people, increasing employment by nearly 20% since 2021.
Poland’s defence market is also seeing a steady rise in the number of small and micro-enterprises working for the armaments sector. The growing value and volume of public procurement for weapons and military equipment is fostering the creation of new companies and strengthening those already operating in the industry. Defence-focused start-ups are becoming increasingly active as well, concentrating on innovative technologies, military electronics, and modern security systems. These entities are also creating new jobs.
According to analyses by Grupa Progres, in the 30 largest defence companies alone, more than 300 job advertisements have recently been published, while across the entire industry the number of vacancies is several times higher.
“The labour market in the defence sector is exceptionally absorbent today. Companies are running multiple projects in parallel and securing competencies for the years ahead. The SAFE programme in 2026 may further increase demand for engineers, IT specialists, procurement experts, and production professionals. This is one of the most promising career paths in Poland,” says Magda Dąbrowska, CEO of Grupa Progres.
A broad spectrum of roles
Recruitment covers both production positions and highly specialised technological, engineering, and administrative roles. Companies are looking for, among others, CNC machine operators (including press brake operators), CNC turners and millers, as well as assemblers of airframes, helicopters, automotive and naval vehicles, electricians, electronics technicians, electromechanics, welders, painters, locksmiths, galvanisers, aircraft mechanics, and automotive mechanics.
Firms are also hiring quality inspectors, planners, production control staff, and technologists (mechanical, electrical, welding, materials, weapons systems), assistant designers, mechanical design engineers, and electronics engineers. Job postings also include positions such as technical assistant, junior product support engineer, commissioning and service specialist, supervision inspector, security systems administrator, or coordinator for live-fire campaigns and contract weapon systems.
They are recruiting software developers, designers, and systems analysts for command-and-control support systems, as well as designers of ICT systems, digital devices, microwave circuits, and radio-navigation systems, hardware and software testers, and cybersecurity specialists.
Procurement and logistics functions are expanding too—companies are seeking specialists, clerks, and logistics staff, procurement employees in investment and maintenance departments, spare-parts management specialists, warehouse workers, and materials pickers.
In quality, finance, and administration, recruitment is ongoing for quality management specialists, compliance professionals, data protection officers, audit and internal control experts, controllers, accounting and finance staff, HR and payroll specialists, document flow administrators, as well as financial analysts and financial modelling specialists. Employers are also looking for experts in business process analysis, trade and marketing, sales, product training, and HR.
Management roles are also available, including project manager, department manager (design, dispatch, welding shop), compliance monitoring manager, director of the quality office, or director of the service office. Internships and development programmes are offered in areas such as weapons systems, signal processing, microwave equipment, and technical and engineering departments.
“The defence industry offers opportunities both for people with production experience and for highly qualified new-technology specialists, as well as a chance for young people to start a career without experience. More and more often, companies combine mechanical, electronic, and digital competencies within a single project, which is why they are looking for people who are open to development and working in interdisciplinary teams,” emphasises Magda Dąbrowska. “A sector that not long ago was sometimes seen as a ‘male fortress’ now offers a range of opportunities for women as well—those with the same education and qualifications as their male colleagues. They can grow in technology, engineering, and project management, bringing fresh perspectives and creative solutions to demanding defence projects,” she adds.
Competitive pay and an extensive benefits system
In addition to attractive salaries—often exceeding several tens of thousands of zlotys—frequently supplemented by quarterly bonuses, project allowances, or long-service awards, employers offer broad non-wage benefits.
Private medical care is standard (including fully employer-funded options and extended family packages), along with group life insurance and personal accident coverage, the option to join an employee capital plan, and prescription drug insurance. Companies also provide holiday subsidies for employees and their children, Christmas gift packages, financial assistance in difficult life situations, and attractive travel packages financed through social funds.
Benefits also include sports cards, recreational and sports activities, yoga, or online personal training. Increasingly, employees have access to online advisory services covering consultations with a psychologist, psychotherapist, coach, dietitian, speech therapist, physiotherapist, or lawyer.
Organisations also invest in competence development by funding studies, courses, and specialised training, running mentoring and succession programmes, and offering workshop-based training. Employee suggestion and referral programmes are in place, along with company integration initiatives such as family picnics and occasional gifts. Many companies offer flexible working hours, no formal dress code (except for roles requiring protective clothing), and remote work where the nature of tasks allows.
“Defence companies are competing for talent more strongly than ever—not only through pay, but through the entire benefits ecosystem. Employment stability, long-term contracts, real support in life situations, and extensive development programmes make candidates view the industry as a safe and перспективive place to work. For many people, it also matters greatly that they are contributing to projects of strategic importance for the country’s security,” notes the CEO of Grupa Progres.
Requirements and recruitment process
Employers expect solid technical competencies—such as knowledge of aviation, electrical engineering, avionics, or mechanics; the ability to read technical drawings in line with European and American standards; and experience in 3D design and modelling. Growing importance is also attached to understanding the digitalisation of systems and the use of modern production technologies. Foreign-language skills are not required everywhere.
Among soft skills, analytical and innovative thinking, project management capability, rapid response to change, and the ability to work in international, interdisciplinary teams are considered crucial.
The recruitment process is typically multi-stage and includes application screening, an HR interview, a technical meeting, and—particularly for specialist roles—a practical task. In some companies, candidates must also complete procedures related to access to classified information.
“Candidates should be prepared for a substantive technical interview and detailed questions about completed projects. The defence industry is looking for people who think long-term and want to develop their competencies over many years. It is a demanding environment, but one that offers stability, growth, and real influence on projects that are critical to national security,” concludes Magda Dąbrowska.
