As the marine transportation industry struggles to find enough capable employees to fill current vacancies, insurance carriers cannot ignore the growing concern about the future maritime workforce supply. It is an issue that touches all of us.
Unlike the vagaries of weather, crew qualifications–which have a direct impact on the safe, claims-free operation of vessels–are open to scrutiny. Increasingly, both the marine industry and insurers are seeing an unmet need for well-trained, highly skilled employees.
There are several factors that are contributing to the labor shortage.
One is the transition to new technology. On the deck, the huge wooden wheel–so familiar from old seafaring movies–has disappeared, only to be replaced by sophisticated navigational tools.
Where once brute strength was enough to qualify a seaman as ready to join a crew, today a nimble mind and technical training are equally important.
This leads directly to the second issue: the role of today's educational system.
The transition to the age of technology is echoed across many industries that used to take high school graduates directly into their workforce. Today, all of these so-called blue-collar industries face the same problem–there are not enough high school graduates to go around.
And worse, most have not been adequately prepared by the educational system for the work that needs to be done.
Earlier this year, the problem was highlighted in a California report, the "Governor's Career Technical Education Summit," which offered the following statistics:
o In 1960, 60 percent of jobs filled by manufacturers were viewed as unskilled. Today, only 15 percent can be filled by unskilled workers. The remaining jobs require training not offered in today's high schools.
o By 2014, industrial employers in California estimate they will need an additional 25,000 electricians, 11,000 machinists and 250,000 production workers.
What these statistics mean is that the problem is not going away. In fact, it will worsen as the maritime industry competes with others for the dwindling number of qualified workers.
If the outlook is bleak for the marine transportation industry, it is no less so for marine insurers. Our success is directly tied to the safe operation of the vessels that venture out to sea.
All of us have a vested interest in finding ways to produce more skilled seamen. Unfortunately, marine institutes have not been able to grow their programs fast enough. Two concepts to widen the pool of skilled laborers are worth exploring:
o Create specialized training programs.
Rigorous maritime academies with full multiyear curricula have their place in producing a skilled workforce. But there is also room for specialized programs that can more quickly produce workers with a variety of skill levels to handle specific jobs.
o Spread the word about career opportunities.
Going to sea used to be viewed as a romantic endeavor that attracted restless youth. People are still drawn to the adventure of the sea. (Witness the unpredictable popularity of the Discovery Channel's "Deadliest Catch"–an ongoing series that follows the fortunes of deep-sea fishing crews.)
The maritime industry needs to find ways to raise the visibility of the variety of opportunities they have to offer.
The maritime industry is facing challenging times. The labor shortage, however, is an issue that the industry can do something about.
Insurers that are far-sighted know the quality of the marine workforce is a concern for us as well. Partnering with marine owners, operators and educators to address this issue should be a priority for us all.
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