In an unprecedented event, jointly implemented by the government, the Union of Industries and Employers of Metallurgy (UIMM), France Travail, and the armed forces, aiming to bring together the industrial and military sectors, following increases in the defense budget. On the occasion of this first forum, 33 companies from the sector presented their activities to around 400 job seekers and 300 high school students.
Urgent Needs
“Our department is facing a significant need for industrialization,” emphasizes Jean-Marie Girier, prefect of Pyrénées-Atlantiques. To establish this observation, the state representative relies on a survey by France Travail dating back to last July, conducted among 200 business leaders in the Basque Country, Béarn, and Bigorre. The result is an urgent need for recruitment in the sector, with 300 jobs in the next three months, and 700 jobs within a year and a half.
Image Source: Magali Silva / SO
These recruitment needs are directly linked to global geopolitical changes. The state plans to order over 40 billion euros in military equipment from companies across the country by 2026. In this context, the territory could be a valuable asset. “The Southwest plays a major role in national defense, with the excellence of its aeronautical industries,” assures Jean-Marie Girier, mentioning companies such as Safran, Dassault, Thales, or Lauak.
Consequence of Geopolitical Shifts
And these industrialists are feeling the political shifts. “Since the war in Ukraine, we have seen a continuous increase in production for both civilian and military programs,” notes a representative from the Safran plant in Oloron-Sainte-Marie, which collaborates with Dassault and Airbus, manufacturing components like the landing gear for Rafale fighter jets. Looking ahead to 2028, our order forecasts are skyrocketing.
From the Bayonne-based company Akira Technologies, specializing in mechanical engineering, there is also a rise in activities related to defense. “Closely linked to geopolitics, but also since the adoption of the Military Programming Law (LPM) in 2024,” adds a company representative, who works with the French missile manufacturer MBDA. This LPM legislation allocates over 400 billion euros for the military, by 2030, “in service of a sovereign France,” as stated by the Ministry of Defense on its website.
For now, the Week of Industry and Defense continues throughout the department, including visits to partner companies for mobilized job seekers.
