Greek Shipping Needs to Attract Young Talent for Future Growth, Experts Say

Despite a slight increase in the number of Greeks working in shipping in 2024, the workforce still falls short of the sector’s national growth goals, signaling a significant challenge for the Greek shipping industry, according to data presented by the Greek Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs.

Speaking to sector professionals in Athens on Tuesday, Konstantinos Tsagaropoulos, Secretary General for Social Security in Greece, stated that 26,293 Greek citizens are currently employed in the maritime industry, up from 25,540 in 2023.

“However, this figure remains far from the national target for workforce growth in the sector,” Tsagaropoulos said during the “Modern Coastal Shipping Transportation, Island Sustainable Development” conference, organized by the Greek Shipowners Association for Passenger Ships (SEEN) in Athens.

He also revealed that only 2,048 of those employed in Greece’s shipping sector are women, underscoring the need for greater gender inclusion in the industry.

During SEEN’s conference, industry experts and professionals stressed the urgent need to attract younger generations to maritime careers to ensure the sector’s long-term success.

Addressing the skills gap

During the conference, Chrysanthi Stefanou, representing Golden Star Ferries, a SEEN member company, pointed out the shortage of personnel, particularly for auxiliary crew roles. “While there’s a strong focus on bridge and engine positions, there’s insufficient interest in other essential areas,” she noted. Stefanou added that technological advancements in the maritime industry would create new job opportunities, requiring workers to invest in technological education to stay competitive.

On his part, Drossos Reizis, First Deputy Commandant of the Hellenic Coast Guard, highlighted that maritime training is a key priority for the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy. As part of a two-year campaign (2024-2025) aimed at encouraging youth to pursue maritime careers, the Coast Guard has increased school visits across Greece to raise awareness of job opportunities in the sector. Reizis reported a rise in applications to maritime schools, with 3,000 applicants in 2024 compared to 2,500 the previous year.

Students aboard the passenger-vehicle ferry Elyros in Piraeus – an event organized by the Greek Maritime Ministry to introduce young Greeks to the country’s seamanship.

Promoting maritime careers nationwide

During the conference, Eugenides Foundation Managing Director Yannis Golias discussed a recent “talent search” conducted in northern Greece, including Macedonia, Thrace, the North Aegean, and Epirus. He highlighted how working conditions in the coastal shipping sector have evolved, and how providing the right information could help attract people from all walks of life to maritime careers.

Moreover, Ioannis Kontopoulos, General Director for Crews at Attica Group, affirmed that younger generations are drawn to maritime jobs not only because of the attractive salaries but also for the quality of life and meritocracy they offer. He suggested that the education system should adapt to these priorities, ensuring that training programs align with the expectations of today’s youth.

The conference, organized by SEEN and held under the auspices of the Greek Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, the Ministry of National Economy and Finance, and the Ministry for the Environment and Energy, provided a platform to address pressing challenges and identify practical solutions for the sustainable development of Greece’s island regions and the broader maritime sector.