FEATURE | Europe's defence companies scramble for workers as business booms

Submarine and frigate-builder Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems is seeking up to 1,500 workers for its shipyard in Wismar, northern Germany. It is scouring trade fairs but says shortages of STEM experts trained in mathematics, IT or sciences are a challenge, a view shared by Leonardo in Italy.

"In the past, the fact that we offered secure, quality contracts was enough to guarantee our leadership, but today young people favour other sectors over industry," said the aerospace and defence firm, which is looking to universities and technical schools.

Godefroy Jordan, general manager at Headhunting Factory, a Paris-based recruiter, specialises in finding mechanics, systems engineers and technicians for some of France's 4,000 small and medium-sized defence industry suppliers.

"The people we're targeting are in jobs where they've never been headhunted, they don't even have a CV," Jordan told Reuters. "When we call them, they think it's a scam."

"This isn't a problem of finances; it's a human resources problem because the skills aren't there," he added.