economy
SpaceX stock has cooled. Hiring for jobs in the space economy hasn't
The SpaceX IPO euphoria is over, but the bullish trend in space economy jobs remains in place within a labor market where many other sectors have slowed hiring.
TL;DR
- The space economy is growing globally at 9% annually, with the U.S. sector's total value reaching $613 billion in Q2 2025.
- Space-sector employment in the U.S. increased by 27% from 2014 to 2024, outpacing overall private-sector growth.
- Nearly half of new space economy jobs are filled by workers under 35, bucking trends seen in other sectors.
- Active job postings in the space economy are up over 40% year-over-year, while U.S. postings overall are down 5%.
- Median annual salaries in the private space sector range from $100,000 to $135,000, with opportunities for stock options.
- Despite job growth, companies face labor shortages, high turnover, and prolonged hiring periods, especially for STEM roles.
- Over half of private-sector space economy jobs require STEM skills, a demand that outstrips the available trained workforce.
- In-demand roles include Safety Engineer, Information Security, Integration Engineer, Reliability Engineer, and Hardware Engineer.
- The aerospace industry attrition rate was nearly 16% from 2021-2024, with 76% of member organizations reporting hiring challenges for engineers.
- Skilled manufacturing roles are also in short supply, with 56% of organizations reporting hiring difficulties.
- Satellite technology commercialization is a major driver of recent growth in the space economy.
- Companies are increasingly investing in training programs, partnerships with educational institutions, and apprenticeships to address labor shortages.
- Early education initiatives like Blue Origin's Club for the Future aim to inspire future STEM careers in space.