As the global space industry rapidly expands—driven by growth in satellite communications, space mobility, manufacturing, and artificial intelligence—the demand for skilled professionals is intensifying. Yet many capable and desirable candidates from adjacent sectors continue to face a significant obstacle: lack of direct space experience.
This challenge reflects a mismatch between how employers source talent and how the workforce is evolving. While engineers, data scientists, policy specialists, program managers, skilled tradespeople like welders and machinists, and professionals from business operations such as marketing, finance, and other skilled talent are increasingly eager to enter the space industry, their lack of direct space-related experience often prevents them from getting a foot in the door.
Growth Outpacing Workforce Pipelines
According to the Space Foundation’s The Space Report 2024 Q2, global space industry employment grew by 18% from 2019 to 2024, outpacing many private sectors. This includes increases across commercial spaceflight, satellite services, research roles, and trades. However, workforce pipelines have not kept pace.
A similar trend is seen in the UK, where the UK Space Sector Skills Survey 2023, commissioned by the UK Space Agency, found that 54% of companies reported difficulties hiring for key technical roles—including software, systems engineering, and data analytics.
The survey also highlighted a significant demand for professionals with interdisciplinary and management skills—yet many companies continue to screen for narrowly defined “space” experience.
The Transferable Skills Bottleneck
Industry observers say this bottleneck can be traced to legacy hiring practices. Automated screening systems, internal checklists, and a preference for aerospace experience often exclude professionals who have the right skills but lack the right keywords.
Many workforce development experts point to the vast, underutilized talent pool in adjacent industries—such as climate science, software engineering, manufacturing, and telecommunications—as critical to meeting the space sector’s growing needs. Organizations across the commercial space ecosystem are increasingly recognizing that interdisciplinary skills and diverse career backgrounds can strengthen mission planning, innovation, and long-term sustainability.
Programs Creating Access to Space Careers
To meet this challenge, several education and training programs have stepped in to help professionals build relevant experience and credibility. The International Space University (ISU), headquartered in France, offers interdisciplinary programs that combine technical, business, policy, and hands-on experience for aspiring space professionals.
“At ISU, we believe the space industry thrives when it welcomes talent from all walks of life—whether from aerospace or agriculture, engineering or entrepreneurship. Our programs are designed to bridge the gap, equipping professionals with the interdisciplinary skills, global perspective, and most importantly, a powerful international network that opens doors across the entire space ecosystem.” – Dr. John Wensveen, President, International Space University
One of its flagship offerings, the Southern Hemisphere Space Studies Program (SHSSP), is held annually in collaboration with Adelaide University in Australia. The four-week course features modules on space mission design, law, entrepreneurship, and space applications—delivered by international faculty and industry speakers. Students work on team projects that simulate real-world space scenarios, helping participants build a tangible portfolio of work.
A second ISU program, the Space Studies Program (SSP), rotates annually between global host sites and offers a nine-week intensive curriculum. Alumni from these programs have gone on to work at organizations including NASA, ESA, Astroscale, and Airbus.
These initiatives are designed to build more than technical literacy, but also to offer networking opportunities across academia, government, and commercial industry.
Toward a More Inclusive Space Workforce
While progress is being made, experts agree that the space sector must modernize its approach to recruiting. In a May 2023 ISU-hosted webinar titled Career Pathways in the Space Sector, panelists emphasized the importance of recognizing transferable skills and building interdisciplinary teams to meet the challenges of a rapidly evolving industry.
“Space is no longer the exclusive domain of rocket scientists,” said one panelist. “We need experts in communications, law, design, and project management just as urgently.”As the sector continues to evolve, the conversation is shifting toward how to create more accessible pathways—ones that recognize what professionals can do, not just where they’ve worked before.
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Article by Izzy House for ISU
