Czech Defense Firms Flip From Recruiting Push to Inbound Talent

Why Czech Arms Employers Are No Longer Chasing Candidates

Just five years ago, the Czech industrial and technology group CSG had to work hard to fill management positions. Today, according to its human resources director Alena Kozáková, candidates approach the company on their own—including people coming from Rheinmetall, BAE Systems and Raytheon. That reversal is one sign of a broader transformation in European defense employment.

The numbers behind the shift are substantial. Czech defense exports climbed from CZK 15.2 billion in 2021 to CZK 94 billion in 2024, then passed CZK 100 billion for the first time last year at CZK 112.6 billion. Excalibur Army, one of the country's main arms manufacturers, reported revenue of CZK 83.2 billion and net profit of CZK 12.5 billion. It hired nearly 300 employees last year and for the first time exceeded 1,000 workers. Michal Strnad's CSG, which went public in January, is following a similar path.

The demand is now being locked in by policy. At the June 2025 NATO summit in The Hague, member states agreed to a target of spending 5 percent of GDP on defense by 2035—3.5 percent on direct defense and 1.5 percent on related infrastructure and security. The Czech government has promised a faster route: raising the defense budget by 0.2 percentage points of GDP each year to reach 3 percent by 2030. For the Czech Republic, that means two mechanized brigades, an upgrade to fifth-generation F-35 aircraft, stronger air defense and strategic ammunition reserves.

The military is also growing. The army currently has about 28,000 soldiers and aims to reach 37,500. People are not joining because of nostalgia, the article argues; they are looking for job security, competitive wages and a sense that their work matters.

What NATO's Spending Push Means for CSG and Excalibur Army

Why CSG and Excalibur Army Are Gaining From Reversed Hiring

The move from outbound recruitment to inbound applications is not simply better branding. It tracks a demand shock: Excalibur Army's revenue reached a record CZK 83.2 billion, and CSG's January public listing gave the group new visibility. When orders grow faster than the available workforce, job seekers begin to treat the sector as a wage-secure destination—especially while other parts of Czech industry face uncertainty.

NATO's 5 Percent Target Turns Policy Into Payroll

The Hague commitment matters because it converts a geopolitical goal into specific procurement. For Czech suppliers, the national target of 3 percent of GDP by 2030, together with two mechanized brigades, an F-35 upgrade, expanded air defense and strategic ammunition reserves, creates multi-year demand for manufacturing, maintenance and command roles. The annual 0.2 percentage point budget increase is the mechanism that could make the hiring wave more durable than a one-off spending bump.

The Boom's Political Dependence Is the Understated Risk

The article explicitly frames arms production as sensitive to political cycles. Exports of CZK 112.6 billion and Excalibur Army's record profit are tied to a security environment that any peace agreement could alter quickly. A defense sector that becomes one of the engines of the economy also becomes exposed to demand contraction if NATO consensus or conflict intensity changes. That is not a forecast of decline, but it is a structural vulnerability.

The Skill Mix Is Moving From Uniforms to Engineers

The future force described in the source is not primarily larger infantry formations. Drones, cyber capability and the speed of ammunition production are named as decisive factors, which shifts recruitment toward engineers, software specialists and technicians. That has consequences: the Czech army needs to move from about 28,000 soldiers to 37,500, while defense contractors compete for the same smaller generation of young workers—not only against each other, but also against other technical employers.

Turning CSG and Excalibur Army's Hiring Wave Into a Lasting Workforce

The Czech defense sector's hiring opportunity is real, but the data suggest it will only hold if companies and the state convert current demand into specific, durable career paths.

• Defense employers should quantify the reversal, not just celebrate it. CSG now receives inbound candidates from Rheinmetall, BAE Systems and Raytheon; Excalibur Army hired nearly 300 staff and passed 1,000 employees. Use that inbound flow to build a pipeline of engineers and software specialists tied to F-35 support, cyber and drone work, rather than relying on legacy recruitment campaigns.
• Plan for a contraction scenario tied to export levels. With Czech defense exports at CZK 112.6 billion and Excalibur Army revenue at CZK 83.2 billion, companies should model what happens to hiring and capital plans if peace-driven demand falls back toward earlier levels; the article identifies this sensitivity explicitly.
• The Czech military's 37,500-soldier target will compete with contractors for workers. The army has about 28,000 soldiers. To attract roughly 9,500 more while companies also hire, recruitment should emphasize salary security and meaningful work—the two motivations the article cites.
• Job seekers should evaluate the skill pathway, not only the current salary. The sector's stated future needs are engineers, software specialists and technicians for drones, cyber and fast ammunition production. A role that offers a defined route into those skills is more likely to remain valuable in ten years.