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.