08 June 2026
Space is no longer only a domain of scientific ambition: it has become a strategic infrastructure for European sovereignty, security and competitiveness. The sector is also growing rapidly, with 66.100 full-time employees in 2024, which are projected to rise to 104.000 by 2030 if recent trends continue. At the same time, demographic pressure, technological acceleration and competition from adjacent industries are increasing the need for the right skills across both current and future roles in the European space ecosystem.
Space industry: what the market is really looking for
A study launched by the European Space Agency (ESA) and developed by TEHA Group offers an evidence-based view of the European space workforce and its future evolution. The findings of the “ESA Skills Digital Twin Initative” were presented during the ESA Future Skills Executive Roundtable, held at ESA Headquarters in Paris on 8 April 2026.
The analysis shows a highly concentrated labour market: 84% of demand comes from just six European countries and 65% is generated by five companies. While hiring remains strongly engineering-led, employers are increasingly looking beyond aerospace profiles toward software, quality and mechanical engineering, alongside emerging roles in AI systems, flight software and cybersecurity.
The findings also highlight the growing importance of transversal and digital skills. Analytical thinking, problem-solving, communication and teamwork appear across most vacancies, while digital and AI-related capabilities are now mission critical. Overall, the sector is looking for professionals who combine technical depth with cross-functional and digital expertise.
“The strength of the European space ecosystem will depend increasingly on the availability, adaptability and quality of human capital. As space systems become more software-defined and interconnected, the mismatch between current capabilities and future needs risks becoming a real constraint on growth and competitiveness.” Valerio De Molli, CEO and Managing Partner, TEHA Group
Why talent doesn’t always stay in space
The career analysis highlights one of the sector’s most significant structural challenges: retaining talent over time. Of the 13,764 aerospace engineering graduates analysed, only 28% are currently employed in aerospace, suggesting that space careers are shaped less by permanence than by mobility across industries.
Talent moves most frequently between space and sectors such as academia, software and IT, mobility, industrial engineering and consulting. This confirms that aerospace skills are highly transferable and that academia should be seen as a strategic partner in strengthening the talent pipeline.
Geographical mobility is also a defining feature of the European aerospace workforce: 41% of graduates are currently working in a different country from the one in which they studied. While 25% remain within Europe, 16% move outside the continent, with the United States as the main extra-European destination. Within Europe, France stands out as the only country with a net gain in talent flows, reflecting the strong pull of its industrial base and major sector players.
Credits courtesy of ESA
The skills race has already begun
Survey results show that artificial intelligence and machine learning are seen as the most critical capabilities for maintaining competitiveness by 2030, followed by cybersecurity and secure-by-design engineering. This reinforces the evidence from job postings, which already point to a growing demand for digital and AI skills.
At the same time, the space sector’s organisational readiness to develop these capabilities at scale remains limited, with skill fragmentation, legacy mindsets and infrastructure constraints still slowing adoption.
A talent agenda Europe can no longer delay
Taken together, the findings point to the need for a more integrated talent agenda for the European space ecosystem.
Workforce growth alone will not be sufficient to secure Europe’s leadership in space. Without a parallel effort to enhance productivity, accelerate skills development, and improve talent retention, the sector risks expanding headcount without strengthening its competitive position. Addressing this challenge requires a coordinated, long-term strategy that spans the entire skills lifecycle, from early STEM activation and education pathways to continuous upskilling and reskilling. In this perspective, ESA, as the anchor institution of the European space ecosystem, is well positioned to play a role in encouraging greater alignment and coordination among Member States, industry, academia, and training providers.