GITNUXREPORT 2026

Hr In The Space Industry Statistics

The global space industry is rapidly growing but faces significant challenges in hiring and retaining talent.

Rajesh Patel

Team Lead & Senior Researcher with over 15 years of experience in market research and data analytics.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

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Statistic 1

The U.S. space industry workforce grew by 10% from 2021 to 2022

Statistic 2

Global space sector employment reached 2 million in 2022

Statistic 3

Aerospace and defense jobs in space-related fields numbered 1.2 million in Europe in 2023

Statistic 4

U.S. civil space workforce was approximately 18,000 at NASA in 2023

Statistic 5

Commercial space industry added 13,000 jobs in 2022

Statistic 6

Space manufacturing sector employed 45,000 in the UK by 2023

Statistic 7

India's space sector workforce stands at 25,000 professionals

Statistic 8

SpaceX employs over 13,000 people worldwide as of 2024

Statistic 9

Blue Origin's workforce exceeded 11,000 in 2023

Statistic 10

Boeing's space division has 15,000 employees

Statistic 11

Lockheed Martin space workforce is around 18,000

Statistic 12

Northrop Grumman space segment employs 10,000+

Statistic 13

Projected space industry jobs in U.S. to reach 500,000 by 2030

Statistic 14

75% of space jobs are in engineering and IT fields

Statistic 15

Space startups created 5,000 new jobs in 2022

Statistic 16

Australian space industry workforce at 30,000 in 2023

Statistic 17

Canadian space sector employs 20,000

Statistic 18

France's space industry has 60,000 direct jobs

Statistic 19

Germany's space workforce is 100,000 including indirect

Statistic 20

Japan's space agency JAXA employs 1,700

Statistic 21

South Korea's space industry workforce at 5,000 in 2023

Statistic 22

Brazil's space sector employs 2,500

Statistic 23

UAE space workforce growing to 10,000 by 2023

Statistic 24

Space industry job growth rate 9% annually since 2018

Statistic 25

40% of space jobs now in private sector vs government

Statistic 26

STEM graduates entering space industry rose 15% in 2023

Statistic 27

Remote sensing jobs in space sector up 20%

Statistic 28

Satellite manufacturing employs 50,000 globally

Statistic 29

Launch services workforce 15,000 worldwide

Statistic 30

Space tourism projected to create 10,000 jobs by 2030

Statistic 31

65% of space companies report hiring difficulties for engineers

Statistic 32

Time-to-hire for space roles averages 90 days

Statistic 33

80% of space firms use LinkedIn for talent sourcing

Statistic 34

Entry-level space jobs receive 200+ applications per posting

Statistic 35

55% shortage of skilled aerospace engineers reported

Statistic 36

Campus recruiting yields 30% of new space hires

Statistic 37

70% of space recruiters prioritize security clearance holders

Statistic 38

Diversity hiring goals met by only 40% of space firms

Statistic 39

Referral programs account for 25% of space hires

Statistic 40

AI tools used by 45% of space HR for screening resumes

Statistic 41

Remote hiring increased 50% post-pandemic in space sector

Statistic 42

60% of space jobs require STEM degrees

Statistic 43

Upskilling programs fill 20% of skill gaps in hiring

Statistic 44

International talent visas issued for space: 5,000 in 2023

Statistic 45

Women comprise 25% of space recruitment pipelines

Statistic 46

Cost per hire in space industry: $10,000 average

Statistic 47

75% of space leaders say talent attraction is top challenge

Statistic 48

Executive search firms used by 35% for C-suite space roles

Statistic 49

Hackathons source 10% of junior space talent

Statistic 50

Employer branding boosts space applications by 40%

Statistic 51

50% of space hires from competitor firms

Statistic 52

Virtual reality interviews adopted by 30% space recruiters

Statistic 53

Salary transparency laws impact 20% space postings

Statistic 54

Gig economy fills 15% of short-term space roles

Statistic 55

85% retention challenge due to competitor poaching

Statistic 56

Average tenure in space industry: 4.2 years

Statistic 57

Voluntary turnover rate in space: 12% annually

Statistic 58

40% of space employees leave within first year

Statistic 59

Retention bonuses offered to 60% of critical space roles

Statistic 60

Work-life balance cited by 55% leaving space jobs

Statistic 61

Flexible hours retain 70% more space talent

Statistic 62

Mentorship programs reduce turnover by 25%

Statistic 63

35% turnover linked to lack of career progression

Statistic 64

Exit interviews show pay as 30% turnover reason

Statistic 65

Hybrid work models cut turnover 18%

Statistic 66

Employee net promoter score in space: 45

Statistic 67

50% of space firms track turnover monthly

Statistic 68

Leadership quality impacts 40% retention decisions

Statistic 69

Wellness programs boost retention by 20%

Statistic 70

Promotion rates: 15% annually in space

Statistic 71

Regretted loss rate: 8% in high-performers

Statistic 72

Alumni rehiring rate: 12% in space industry

Statistic 73

Burnout causes 25% of space sector exits

Statistic 74

Stay interviews conducted by 40% of space HR

Statistic 75

Equity adjustments reduce turnover 10%

Statistic 76

65% of departures due to better opportunities elsewhere

1/76

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Forget counting stars—start counting resumes, because with the global space workforce soaring to 2 million and private giants like SpaceX and Blue Origin now employing tens of thousands, the final frontier’s greatest mission is no longer just engineering marvels, but the urgent, human challenge of finding and keeping the talent to build them.

Key Takeaways

The U.S. space industry workforce grew by 10% from 2021 to 2022
Global space sector employment reached 2 million in 2022
Aerospace and defense jobs in space-related fields numbered 1.2 million in Europe in 2023
65% of space companies report hiring difficulties for engineers
Time-to-hire for space roles averages 90 days
80% of space firms use LinkedIn for talent sourcing
85% retention challenge due to competitor poaching
Average tenure in space industry: 4.2 years
Voluntary turnover rate in space: 12% annually

The global space industry is rapidly growing but faces significant challenges in hiring and retaining talent.

Employment Trends

The U.S. space industry workforce grew by 10% from 2021 to 2022
Global space sector employment reached 2 million in 2022
Aerospace and defense jobs in space-related fields numbered 1.2 million in Europe in 2023
U.S. civil space workforce was approximately 18,000 at NASA in 2023
Commercial space industry added 13,000 jobs in 2022
Space manufacturing sector employed 45,000 in the UK by 2023
India's space sector workforce stands at 25,000 professionals
SpaceX employs over 13,000 people worldwide as of 2024
Blue Origin's workforce exceeded 11,000 in 2023
Boeing's space division has 15,000 employees
Lockheed Martin space workforce is around 18,000
Northrop Grumman space segment employs 10,000+
Projected space industry jobs in U.S. to reach 500,000 by 2030
75% of space jobs are in engineering and IT fields
Space startups created 5,000 new jobs in 2022
Australian space industry workforce at 30,000 in 2023
Canadian space sector employs 20,000
France's space industry has 60,000 direct jobs
Germany's space workforce is 100,000 including indirect
Japan's space agency JAXA employs 1,700
South Korea's space industry workforce at 5,000 in 2023
Brazil's space sector employs 2,500
UAE space workforce growing to 10,000 by 2023
Space industry job growth rate 9% annually since 2018
40% of space jobs now in private sector vs government
STEM graduates entering space industry rose 15% in 2023
Remote sensing jobs in space sector up 20%
Satellite manufacturing employs 50,000 globally
Launch services workforce 15,000 worldwide
Space tourism projected to create 10,000 jobs by 2030

Employment Trends Interpretation

While the cosmos may be infinite, humanity's foothold is growing at an astonishing rate, with nearly half a million new rocket scientists, satellite wranglers, and cosmic entrepreneurs projected to join the starfaring workforce this decade, proving that the final frontier is now a serious business park.

Recruitment Challenges

65% of space companies report hiring difficulties for engineers
Time-to-hire for space roles averages 90 days
80% of space firms use LinkedIn for talent sourcing
Entry-level space jobs receive 200+ applications per posting
55% shortage of skilled aerospace engineers reported
Campus recruiting yields 30% of new space hires
70% of space recruiters prioritize security clearance holders
Diversity hiring goals met by only 40% of space firms
Referral programs account for 25% of space hires
AI tools used by 45% of space HR for screening resumes
Remote hiring increased 50% post-pandemic in space sector
60% of space jobs require STEM degrees
Upskilling programs fill 20% of skill gaps in hiring
International talent visas issued for space: 5,000 in 2023
Women comprise 25% of space recruitment pipelines
Cost per hire in space industry: $10,000 average
75% of space leaders say talent attraction is top challenge
Executive search firms used by 35% for C-suite space roles
Hackathons source 10% of junior space talent
Employer branding boosts space applications by 40%
50% of space hires from competitor firms
Virtual reality interviews adopted by 30% space recruiters
Salary transparency laws impact 20% space postings
Gig economy fills 15% of short-term space roles

Recruitment Challenges Interpretation

The space industry is desperately trying to build a rocket-science workforce while juggling a talent shortage, an application deluge, and a galactic game of musical chairs, all while security clearances are the golden ticket and diversity remains the final frontier.

Retention and Turnover

85% retention challenge due to competitor poaching
Average tenure in space industry: 4.2 years
Voluntary turnover rate in space: 12% annually
40% of space employees leave within first year
Retention bonuses offered to 60% of critical space roles
Work-life balance cited by 55% leaving space jobs
Flexible hours retain 70% more space talent
Mentorship programs reduce turnover by 25%
35% turnover linked to lack of career progression
Exit interviews show pay as 30% turnover reason
Hybrid work models cut turnover 18%
Employee net promoter score in space: 45
50% of space firms track turnover monthly
Leadership quality impacts 40% retention decisions
Wellness programs boost retention by 20%
Promotion rates: 15% annually in space
Regretted loss rate: 8% in high-performers
Alumni rehiring rate: 12% in space industry
Burnout causes 25% of space sector exits
Stay interviews conducted by 40% of space HR
Equity adjustments reduce turnover 10%
65% of departures due to better opportunities elsewhere

Retention and Turnover Interpretation

Despite the cosmos being infinite, the space industry is learning the hard way that employees won't orbit a workplace forever if they're offered better galaxies—or just a life—elsewhere.