Seven in ten U.S. employers say they cannot find the skilled workers they need. That figure, drawn from ManpowerGroup’s 2024 research, describes a hiring problem that touches almost every industry. For defense contractors such as HX5, the squeeze is even tighter.
National Defense Magazine reported that 82% of companies in the defense industrial base find it difficult to locate qualified STEM workers. Margarita Howard, who owns and leads HX5, deals with that reality as her company staffs programs for NASA and the Department of Defense.
Why Defense Hiring Is Harder
Defense roles often require security clearances, which can take months or years to secure. Technology companies, meanwhile, can hire on the spot and frequently offer bigger paychecks. Howard notes that highly specialized positions are the toughest to fill because they combine technical skill, clearance requirements, and narrow expertise.
HX5 needs a lot of that talent. The Florida-based company employs more than 1,000 people at 90 government locations in 34 states, and most of them hold college degrees.
Howard’s Playbook
Experience comes first. Margarita Howard says HX5 looks for people who have worked with or supported NASA or the Department of Defense, noting that experience with these agencies’ programs and missions “is very different from experience gained working in the commercial world.”
Workplace updates come next HX5 offers hybrid models where they make sense, and it has adopted instant messaging and interactive project management tools that appeal to Gen Z, a generation projected to make up approximately 30% of the workforce by 2030.
Purpose ties the approach together. Howard encourages recruits to get excited about missions like reaching the moon, giving defense careers a sense of meaning that commercial jobs may not match.
The approach appears to support retention. Some HX5 employees have stayed 15 years at a company that turned 20 in 2024. In a market where good candidates are scarce, Margarita Howard is counting on experience, flexibility, and mission to keep HX5 staffed. Refer to this article for related information.
Find more information about Howard on https://www.finsmes.com/2026/01/margarita-howard-on-how-hx5s-defense-origins-launched-its-expansion-into-nasa-contracting.html