Nautilus International: Fewer people are considering careers at sea

According to Nautilus International’s Maritime Barometer report, while awareness of the industry’s vital role in global trade has been slowly increasing, misconceptions around career prospects, working conditions, and the industry’s environmental impact persist.

The report identifies several key challenges and concerns that influence individuals’ decisions about pursuing careers at sea – including a lack of awareness about the opportunities available in the maritime sector and a degree of public confusion about the Merchant Navy’s role, with a significant portion associating it primarily with national defence rather than commercial shipping and trade.

Key findings 

• The number of people willing to consider a career at sea is declining, with only 22% of working-age adults open to the idea in 2024, down from 35% in 2022.
• The most common reason for rejecting a career at sea is the prolonged time spent away from home, cited by 33% of respondents.
• Many respondents also perceive a career at sea as being too dangerous.
• 29% of respondents believe they lack the necessary skills and training for a career at sea.

Sea blindness

The term “sea blindness” refers to a lack of awareness among the public, media, and decision-makers about the maritime sector, hindering its ability to attract support, investment, and talent. Despite the sector delivering 95% of everything entering the country, the public perception of the industry’s importance is significantly underdeveloped. A survey revealed that only 0.1% of people knew that 95% of consumer goods arrive by sea, with many believing that only around 48% of these goods enter the UK via sea.

A third of the population doesn’t know where their nearest port is, and less than a fifth (18%) personally know someone who works at sea. Only 7% could identify the UK’s merchant navy flag, the “Red Ensign” or “Red Duster.”

Among common household goods, only bananas (63%) were widely recognized as arriving predominantly by sea. The survey also highlighted the public’s misunderstanding of seafaring risks, with more people believing shark attacks are more common than pirate attacks (45% vs. 37%). More than half of respondents (58%) couldn’t name any famous seafarers, with historical figures like Captain Cook and Admiral Nelson being the most recognized. Only 21% believe seafarers deserve key worker status, far less than doctors, supermarket assistants, or delivery drivers, despite these professions depending on maritime work.

Maritime careers

Interest in maritime careers has been declining, despite the increasing sophistication of technology aboard vessels and rising demand for skills in IT, communications, and engineering. More than a third of the UK population (35%) said they would consider a career at sea, but the maritime sector remains out of sight, hindering proactive consideration of maritime jobs. Public perception often places maritime as one of the smallest industries in terms of employment, despite the sector directly supporting 220,100 jobs in the UK and nearly 1 million jobs indirectly.

Maritime contributed £17 billion to the UK economy in 2017, more than the rail and transport sectors combined. The lack of awareness about maritime careers in schools is evident, with only 4% of the population discussing maritime career prospects during their education. Respondents perceived maritime as a less financially rewarding career, though ship masters and captains can earn significantly more than the average UK salary.

Untapped jobs market

The survey revealed a significant gender imbalance in the maritime industry, with the population estimating that 18% of seafarers are women, when the actual figure is just 2%. However, 32% of women in the UK indicated they would consider a maritime career, close to the 41% of men who would do the same. This presents an untapped jobs market, highlighting the need for greater education and awareness about maritime careers, which could lead to a more diverse workforce in the future.

By addressing these challenges, the maritime industry can ensure a bright future for UK seafarers, and their continued contribution to the global economy. 

source : safety4sea