Defence contractors in the UK have announced plans to create 40,000 apprenticeships, work experience placements, and jobs for young people every year, according to recent reports. Wes Streeting, the UK’s Defence Secretary, has described the Ministry of Defence as a "ministry for growth" and stated that increased spending on national security will lead to more job opportunities across the country. Streeting has called the situation of nearly 1 million young people aged 16 to 24 who are not in education, employment, or training (often referred to as Neet) a "moral emergency," and he emphasized the need to use defence spending to create growth and opportunity. The commitments were made during a meeting with leaders from major defence companies, including BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, Babcock, Thales, and Airbus. These firms have pledged to provide 40,000 opportunities for young people aged 18 to 24 in the defence sector by 2030, with the number expected to rise to 50,000 by 2035. The industry has also committed to a "no wrong door" policy, ensuring that applicants who are not selected for one role are directed to other opportunities within the broader defence supply chain. The proposed increase in defence spending aligns with the government's goal of re-industrializing the UK, with most of the funding expected to be spent outside of London and the southeast of England. Labour has proposed increasing defence spending to 2.7% of the UK’s GDP starting next year, partly funded by reducing the overseas aid budget. Earlier this year, John Healey, who stepped down as Defence Secretary in June, had supported raising defence spending to 3% of GDP by 2030. However, as Chancellor, he has not yet committed to this target, with the decision to be made during a spending review planned for next year. Streeting has expressed confidence that the government will provide the necessary investment for national security and urged patience until the budget and spending review are finalized. Analysts suggest that reaching the 3% target may require tax increases, given the tight financial constraints in other areas of the government. The defence jobs initiative comes ahead of the release of a final report by former Labour cabinet minister Alan Milburn, who has focused on addressing the Neet issue. Milburn praised the defence sector's commitment, saying it demonstrates what can be achieved when employers take action to support young people. He highlighted that the industry has the potential to provide young people with the experience, skills, and confidence needed to build long-term careers. In addition to the defence sector's efforts, Labour is also launching a Jobs Guarantee scheme for young people aged 18 to 24 who have been unemployed for at least 18 months. This initiative will offer taxpayer-funded work placements, aiming to provide practical experience and help participants gain a foothold in the job market.