Sailors’ Society has released its latest Cadet Report, offering a global perspective on the voices of the next generation of maritime professionals.
The 2024/25 Report: The next generation of maritime speaks gathers insights from cadets in 26 countries, including previously unpublished data from China. It also includes comparisons between pre-sea cadets and active seafarers, providing valuable perspectives on career expectations versus realities at sea.
The report features a region-by-region analysis, uncovering key differences worldwide. North Asian cadets have the strongest job prospects, while African cadets are the most confident despite having the lowest job offer rates.
Mental health concerns are highest in South East Asia, and Chinese cadets place a significantly higher emphasis on connectivity and technology. UK cadets report strong job prospects and low stress levels, contrasting with European cadets, who face high stress and limited employment opportunities.
Key trends in cadet motivations
Entering the third year of the report, consistent trends have emerged over time, underscoring the evolving yet stable nature of cadet perspectives. Notably, certain statistics have remained unchanged, highlighting persistent themes in cadet motivations and expectations.
1. Motivated by family and financial stability
Global Data:
- 46% To take care of my family
- 28% To make loads of money
- 21% To travel the world
- 3% Not sure how I ended up here
- 2% It is expected of me
Cadets continue to cite providing for family and financial stability as primary motivations for choosing a maritime career. This has been a recurring theme across all three years, especially in regions where economic challenges heighten the importance of a reliable income.
Chinese and European cadets—representing new regions in this year’s report—aligned with the global trend in their primary motivation for pursuing a career at sea: a desire to support their families.
Active cadets and pre-sea cadets displayed similar motivations, aligning closely with the global trend of prioritizing family support as a primary reason for entering the maritime industry.
This shared focus on family responsibility underscores a common value that transcends regional boundaries, reinforcing the maritime industry’s vital role in providing economic stability for seafarers and their loved ones. The stability of this motivation suggests it is a deeply rooted value among young seafarers.
2. But the UK differs
UK Data:
- 41% The desire to travel the world is my primary motivation
- 28% My motivation is to make money
- 15% I am going to sea to take care of my family
However, another continuing trend is the distinctly different motivations cited by UK cadets and ratings. A significant percentage of cadets cited the desire to travel the world as their primary motivation—an aspiration notably higher than financial considerations or family responsibilities. This is in sharp contrast to cadets from other regions where family responsibility is a leading factor.
Interestingly, another 15% of UK cadets selected “I’m not sure how I ended up here” as their motivation—a choice notably higher than in any other region. This response may suggest that, for some UK cadets, the decision to pursue a maritime career may be influenced by circumstances or curiosity rather than a clear, predetermined goal.
These unique insights highlight the diverse motivations within the global cadet community and suggest potential areas of focus for tailored recruitment and engagement strategies in the UK.
3. A Strong demand for ethical treatment and supportive workplace conditions
Global Data:
My biggest motivation for choosing a shipping company would be:
- 68% How they treat seafarers
- 29% The amount of money I get paid
- 3% Whether they have Wi-Fi on board
Year after year, cadets indisputably emphasize the importance of ethical treatment and workplace well-being over salary alone when choosing employers. This consistent expectation reflects Gen Z’s strong commitment to social values and workplace culture, pushing the maritime industry to prioritize fair and supportive working environments.
For the first time, the sample includes active seafarers and not only cadets who have yet to experience life at sea, offering new insights into how motivations may differ between these groups.
The addition of this new data reveals that both active and pre-sea cadets share a strong emphasis on ethical treatment and workplace well-being, aligning with the broader Gen Z commitment to social values and supportive environments.
However, active seafarers, having first-hand experience of life at sea, prioritize ethical treatment and a positive workplace culture even more highly. This suggests that exposure to the realities of maritime work reinforces the importance of fair treatment and well-being, and that those who have been at sea place even greater value on supportive conditions.
These findings highlight the need for the industry to create a work environment that meets the expectations of both current and future seafarers, ensuring that ethical practices are upheld at every stage of a cadet’s career.
4. Females View Seafaring as a Long-Term Career
90+% of females said they see seafaring as a long-term career.
A fourth trend emerging over the past three years is the ongoing challenge to the myth that females view seafaring as a short-term career. Each year’s data has consistently shown that female cadets, like their male counterparts, aspire to long-term careers at sea.
This finding is pivotal in reshaping perceptions within the industry and highlights a strong commitment among females to pursue sustainable maritime careers. Their dedication underscores the need for industry practices that support and encourage gender diversity, as female seafarers are increasingly seen as a resilient and committed segment of the future workforce.
We are delighted to sponsor this Report, which sheds light on the experiences and challenges faced by cadets, the future leaders of the maritime industry. Our involvement in this initiative underscores our commitment to seafarers’ wellbeing, safety, and connectivity, with a particular focus on the next generation of maritime professionals
… said Ben Palmer, President of Inmarsat Maritime.
