Dec. 7, 2015—The majority of shore-based employees across the shipping sector feel that they are lacking in training and development opportunities, according to leading international maritime jobs specialist Halcyon Recruitment and online training provider Coracle, which published their 7th Maritime Employee Survey.
The 2015 report, based on nearly 3,000 responses, found that half of the responders stated that their current employer does not provide, pay for or even encourage training. Against a backdrop of poor markets, lack of promotions and salary rises, the report’s authors warn that, without good training and personal development opportunities, maritime employers will lose good staff.
Commenting on the results, Halcyon Recruitment Managing Director Heidi Heseltine said: “Shipping industry employers need to focus on strategies to retain their best people. Whether this involves creating hierarchical structures, offering clear career progression or providing training, employers need to think outside of the box and offer more than just a salary. Shipping may still be an employer-driven market, but more thought needs to be given to the stagnant conditions most employees feel they are in.”
She added: “With a lack of salary increases, promotion potential, and training and development opportunities, the likelihood of increased staff turnover is high. Now is the time for the industry to reassess this.”
Other key findings of the survey include:
- 53 percent of brokers, charterers and traders received a bonus in the last 12 months compared to 62 percent in 2014.
- An ongoing shortage of technical personnel means that 69 percent of respondents received a bonus in the last 12 months vs. 46 percent in 2013.
- 47 percent of respondents saw an increase to their basic salary and 58 percent received a bonus in the last 12 months.
- Asia continues to lead in terms of salary increases and bonus payments.
- Singapore is the most attractive location from a work/life perspective with 23 percent of participants favoring this location, followed by England and northern Europe.
- When considering a career move, salary ranks highest in terms of importance, replacing work/life balance from last year.
- In all sectors, excluding pensions and investments, legal and insurance, over 25 percent (for executives and senior management as high as 38 percent) of participants would only anticipate staying in a job for up to one year before considering moving to another company.
