Eighty-two percent of companies in the defense industrial base say qualified STEM workers are hard to find, according to National Defense Magazine. For Margarita Howard, who leads the federal contractor HX5, that figure describes a daily reality.
The shortage reaches well beyond defense. ManpowerGroup’s 2024 research found that 71% of U.S. employers struggle to locate the skilled talent they need. Defense firms face an added hurdle: their hires must qualify for security clearances, a process that can stretch for months or even years. Commercial technology companies, by contrast, can often hire immediately and pay more.
The Hardest Roles to Fill
Howard acknowledges that HX5 has its toughest time with highly specialized positions. These roles call for a rare mix of technical skill, clearance eligibility, and program-specific knowledge. Those qualities rarely appear together, which makes suitable candidates exceptionally rare. The company, which supports NASA and the Department of Defense from its Florida base, employs more than 1,000 people across 34 states.
Selling the Mission
To compete with tech firms, HX5 leans on the appeal of the work itself. Howard tells candidates that enthusiasm for the program matters most. “You have to get up in the morning and be excited about the particular program you’re supporting, let’s get to the moon, let’s accomplish this mission overseas where X and Y are happening,” she said.
Margarita Howard also points to retention as proof the pitch works. “Some of them have been with us 15 years,” she said of HX5 staff, a notable record for a company that marked its 20th anniversary in 2024.
Younger workers add another wrinkle. World Economic Forum research shows 38% of Gen Z respondents expect to quit their jobs within a year, up four percentage points from the prior survey. Long tenures like those at HX5 offer a counterpoint to that trend and suggest a mission-centered culture can keep people around. Howard has welcomed Gen Z all the same, saying HX5 has tried to adapt to younger workers through hybrid schedules where security allows and modern communication tools. See related link for additional information.
More about Howard on https://www.margaritahoward.com/