Top earners in the EU's blue economy sector hail from energy, shipbuilding, and transportation industries.
Article: Job Attractiveness and Remuneration in the EU's Blue Economy Sectors
The job market in the EU's blue economy sectors presents a unique landscape compared to other economic sectors. A recent study by the EU Blue Economy Observatory has shed light on the key patterns shaping job attractiveness and remuneration in seven blue economy sectors: coastal tourism, marine non-living resources, marine living resources, marine renewable energy, maritime transport, port activities, and shipbuilding and repair.
The findings reveal a clear divide between skilled and lower-skilled roles. Higher wages are concentrated in skilled blue economy sectors such as marine renewable energy, shipbuilding, maritime transport, and certain port activities. These sectors pay salaries well above the national averages across EU Member States, reflecting the high skill levels required and the technological or capital-intensive nature of these activities.
In contrast, lower-skilled, labor-intensive jobs—notably in coastal tourism, fisheries, and aquaculture—tend to have lower pay and fewer benefits, often below average compared to other economic sectors. These roles also face challenges such as seasonality and limited job security, with workers employed only part of the year, averaging 57–74% of full-time schedules annually.
Job safety does not directly correlate with higher wages in blue economy sectors; for example, port activities have high accident rates but generally pay around the national average rather than premium wages.
Wage differences across Member States reflect national cost of living variations and internal factors such as training systems, innovation adoption, and hiring practices, reinforcing disparities within the blue economy.
Compared to other economic sectors across the EU, these patterns show some unique characteristics. Wage levels, job security, seasonal employment, job safety impact on wages, and cross-country wage range in the blue economy sectors exhibit distinct variations.
To attract skilled talent and fill labor shortages in the blue economy, Europe needs targeted policies that focus on more than just wages, including investment in training, innovation, and working conditions. Recognizing and addressing the structural divides across blue economy jobs is a necessary step towards creating a more resilient, inclusive, and future-ready employment sector.
By investing in a more resilient, inclusive, and future-ready blue economy employment sector, we can ensure its long-term success and sustainability. This understanding informs strategic priorities such as boosting training, promoting innovation, and enhancing social protection to raise the attractiveness and remuneration of blue economy jobs, particularly in lower-skilled areas, to align with broader EU labor market trends and sustainability goals.
References: 1. EU Blue Economy Observatory. (2021). Remuneration and attractiveness of EU blue economy sectors. 2. European Commission. (2021). A European Blue Economy Strategy. 3. European Trade Union Confederation. (2020). The state of labour rights in Europe 2020. 4. European Parliament. (2020). Resolution on the future of the European Union's maritime sector. 5. European Commission. (2019). An Action Plan for the European Green Deal.
- For a flourishing and sustainable lifestyle, one should consider the potential of job opportunities in the EU's blue economy sectors, given the diverse range of sectors that offer attractive remuneration, particularly in the high-skilled areas of marine renewable energy, shipbuilding, maritime transport, and select port activities.
- In an aspiration for a home-and-garden that mirrors sustainability, efforts should be invested in the development and growth of the blue economy, particularly in lower-skilled areas, to address the needs of workers in coastal tourism, fisheries, and aquaculture, who often face wage disparities, seasonal employment, and limited job security.
- To support a secure, stable economy, it's crucial to address the structural divides within the blue economy, ensuring that job opportunities are not only attractive in terms of remuneration but also provide secure employment and safe working conditions, as exemplified by the port activities sector, which has a high accident rate yet pays wages close to national averages.
