Preparing the maritime workforce for the twin transition: skill priorities and educational needs

Résumé fourni par la source

Introduction The maritime sector is facing increasing pressure to adapt to the combined demands of decarbonisation and digitalisation, creating new requirements for green and digital skills across the workforce. While technological innovation and environmental regulation are advancing rapidly, their successful implementation depends on the availability of workers equipped with the appropriate “Twin Skills” to operate, govern, and optimise these systems. Methods This study investigates three core questions: (i) which maritime occupations are currently in the highest demand, (ii) which occupations exhibit the greatest concentration of green and digital skills, and (iii) what minimum level of education is required to meet these evolving requirements. The analysis combines ESCO-based Twin Skills scoring with firm-level survey evidence, integrating desk research, the ESCO Skills-Occupations Matrix, and primary data collected from maritime organisations across five maritime value-chain segments: shipping, ports and terminals, shipbuilding and ship repair, maritime logistics and supply chain management, and marine technology and equipment. Results The findings reveal a positive relationship between occupational demand and the intensity of green and digital skills. High-demand occupations are characterised by a strong concentration of integrated green and digital competencies, while firms report shortages in key occupational groups requiring advanced technical, regulatory, and analytical capabilities. The analysis also identifies the educational qualifications and priority skills most closely associated with the occupations that are critical for supporting the maritime sector's Twin Transition. Discussion By linking occupational demand with ESCO-based skills intelligence, the study identifies workforce constraints that may slow the Twin Transition. The findings provide evidence to support targeted curriculum development, occupation-specific upskilling and reskilling initiatives, and evidence-based skills policies aimed at strengthening the maritime workforce's capacity to support climate neutrality and digital competitiveness.

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