The shipping industry is following the wind of change, keeping up with the latest developments of digitalization and automation. Yet, many support that the industry needs fresh minds and innovative ideas. Have you ever wondered what it takes to bring new talent within the maritime sector and in what ways can the sector attract new techies?
Moving away from tradition
In a survey conducted in 2018, SAFETY4SEA explained that the shipping industry is based on a number of traditional pillars, highlighting the importance of modernization.
Although tradition is not bad, resisting innovation and change tends to cause deliberate barriers and challenges to the shipping industry as a whole, as well as to those working within the sector.
Attracting young talent in tech jobs
Digitalization, environmental sustainability, geopolitics, the maritime workforce and their interlinkage are among the top issues, capturing the attention among the next generation of maritime leaders.
Therefore, the shipping industry is focusing on next generations to
- meet millennials and Gen X expectations
- help in maintaining work-life balance and/or
- accept more women in the industry both in leadership roles at offices or onboard.
Attracting generation Z in the sector means that the sector itself is ready to adapt to the new changes, the new way of thinking and overcome the generation gap.
How can the sector achieve that?
#1 Social Media
The shipping sector has to get out of its safe zone and boost its presence in all types of social media. Young people have a really close relation with the internet and look for jobs through it.
Therefore, the sector has to improve its presence by using Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin or even Pinterest to show how the industry works.
#2 Work on the image
The maritime sector seems a bit old-fashioned for young people. The stereotypes, as well as the male-dominant sector make the industry look unappealing for those looking for a job.
Consequently, the industry has to work more on the stereotypes about women seafarers and highlight the importance of diversity and equality, keeping in mind that today young people participate in global movements aiming for a change.
#3 Increase tech roles
In order to attract young talent in the digital part of the industry, the sector could increase the roles with the creation of new types of jobs.
For example, automation will bring more jobs, as more people will be needed to deal with autonomous operations.
During a digital discussion conducted by the International Chamber of Shipping, Quah Ley Hoon, CEO, MPA Singapore stated that digitalization reaches out to the talent of cyber experts to join the sector in order to deal with cyber security issues.
Training
Highlighting the change of the industry, in a recent webinar conducted by the International Chamber of Shipping, Tan Chong Meng, Group CEO, PSA International commented that
“We’ve come from an era of people having hands on the wheel to people having their hands on a joystick.”
However, to keep up with the new changes arising from digitalization, training is a crucial step not to be missed.
Mr Chong Meng noted that the industry needs a cross-disciplinary learning.
[To explain, cross-disciplinary practices refer to teaching, learning, and scholarship activities that cut across disciplinary boundaries.]
He added that the sector is in need of new types of learning that will lure young people and make the industry seem even more interesting, with dedicated global training centres based on digital methods and more highly automated systems.
Concluding, it is not easy to attract new talent, as the shipping industry is known as seafarers sailing the seas for a long time. Yet, keep in mind that’s not all there is. People ashore have a key role on keeping the industry going, while digitalization will bring more jobs to the table for those interested in new technologies.
