Global Ship Operators Employment Report 2025
There has been limited coverage of the wider thoughts and feelings of ship operators. As a business passionate about the maritime sector we felt that it was a great opportunity to create a unique and extensive global survey. We feel it is vital to expose, highlight and establish a new benchmark across several topics including retention, career development, AI, remuneration, and benefits. This is the first survey of its kind in the sector and one that we believe will be important for years to come.
Retention
Retention is a growing challenge in maritime, with 71% of ship operators planning to change jobs within the next year. Early-career professionals and those in the Asia-Pacific region (86%) are the most active job seekers, driven by career progression and better pay.
Compensation remains key to loyalty, with 31% of employees citing salary and benefits as their top reason for staying with their employer. 56% of ship operators were headhunted in the past six months, underscoring the need for competitive pay and career development to retain talent.
Career moves
53% of ship operators would turn down a job without at least one day of remote work. Flexible hours are equally important, with 55% unwilling to accept roles lacking this option. Transparency matters too—84% of job seekers value seeing salary and benefits in job adverts.
AI in the workplace
AI is reshaping industries, but adoption in maritime remains limited, with only 20% of ship operators using AI at work. Usage varies, with the Americas leading at 29% and Europe trailing at 16%. Interestingly, 50–59- year-olds report slightly higher usage than younger employees.
Despite low adoption, 73% of ship operators view AI positively, seeing it as a tool to enhance efficiency and support human roles, though concerns about job losses persist.
Career Development
Career growth remains a key motivator for ship operators, with 56% aspiring to become charterers. Among these, 75% aim to make the transition within two years. However, only 58% of ship operators receive regular progression reviews, despite 91% recognising their importance for career growth and retention.
Reward and benefits
Salary and benefits are now central to employee retention, with bonuses, remote working, and flexible hours being highly valued. However, 32% of ship operators report not having benefits communicated to them, highlighting the importance of transparency. 77% of ship operators received a pay rise, with most seeing increases up to 10%.
Contact the authors
For a detailed discussion of the report's findings, please contact the authors directly:
Mark Charman, CEO & Founder
Kelsey Purse, Director of Europe, Middle East, Africa and the Americas
Lorenzo Agatiello, Director of Asia-Pacific
Media Enquiries
For media enquiries and interviews, please contact the Faststream Marketing Team.
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