A recent analysis conducted by the Joint Research Centre underscores the existence of substantial disparities in remuneration both across different maritime sectors and between the EU’s blue economy and other economic industries. In particular, wages in the EU’s fisheries and coastal tourism sectors are generally below the national average, whereas occupations in marine non-living resources and marine renewable energy typically offer above-average earnings.
These differences suggest a broader trend whereby sectors or activities characterised by high productivity and a demand for highly skilled labour, such as sea and coastal freight transport and water project construction, tend to provide higher remuneration. Conversely, sectors with lower skill requirements are more likely to offer lower wages while employing a larger share of the blue economy workforce.
An examination of job safety further reveals that workers in higher-risk sectors are not consistently compensated with higher pay, with the exception of the marine non-living resources industry (e.g. oil and gas extraction), where elevated earnings are more prevalent.
In addition, employment stability varies markedly across the blue economy. Sectors such as coastal tourism and marine living resources experience significant seasonal fluctuations and a higher incidence of part-time work. In contrast, industries like shipbuilding and repair, port activities, and maritime transport typically offer more secure and full-time employment opportunities.
Details of the analysis can be found HERE.
A dashboard displaying sector-specific and Member State-specific interactive graphs is accessible here.