Mark Charman, CEO and founder of Faststream Recruitment, provides readers with insights from his company’s latest Global Ship Operators Employment Report.
The maritime sector is undergoing a profound shift and ship operators are right at the centre of it. In the Global Ship Operators Employment Report 2025, Faststream Recruitment surveyed ship operators around the world to uncover how their expectations, ambitions, and working environments are evolving. The findings are a must-read for employers looking to attract and retain top talent in a competitive market.
Retention is under pressure
One of the most striking insights from the report is the sharp rise in job-seeking activity. 71% of ship operators plan to change jobs in the next 12 months, with the Asia-Pacific region seeing the highest levels of movement. Early-career professionals are particularly active, citing career growth and better compensation as key motivators.
For employers, this sends a clear message: retention strategies must go beyond job security and company loyalty. The best talent is open to new opportunities and often being approached. In fact, more than half of the respondents had been headhunted in the previous six months.
Flexibility and transparency are non-negotiable
The desire for greater flexibility continues to shape career decisions. A majority of ship operators now work in a hybrid model, and 53% said they would reject a job that didn’t offer at least one day of remote working. Flexible hours were equally important, with 55% unwilling to take on roles that lacked this option.
The demand for transparency in job adverts is also growing. A huge 84% of respondents said they expect to see salary and benefits included upfront. For maritime employers, clearly outlining what’s on offer is no longer optional, it’s essential for building trust and attracting the right talent.
Salary and benefits play a pivotal role
As in many sectors, compensation is a powerful driver in both retention and attraction. The report found that salary and benefits were the number one reason for staying in a role, cited by 31% of those not planning a move.
Top benefits currently offered include bonuses, remote working, flexible hours, private medical coverage, and gym memberships. Encouragingly, 77% of ship operators received a pay rise, with most seeing increases of up to 10%.
Yet, there’s room for improvement. 32% of respondents said they had never had their benefits formally communicated to them, revealing a missed opportunity for employers to reinforce the value of their total reward packages.
Career progression remains a priority
Career development is another major theme. Over half of ship operators surveyed want to become charterers, with most aiming to achieve this goal within two years. However, only 58% receive regular progression reviews, despite 91% agreeing these are critical to their growth and retention.
Investing in training, feedback, and clear career paths can have a significant impact on employee engagement. Ship operators who felt invested in were much less likely to be planning a job move.
The report makes one thing clear: the expectations of ship operators are evolving, and fast. Flexible working, clear career paths, competitive rewards, and transparent communications are no longer perks, they’re the price of admission for employers who want to compete for the best people.
At Faststream Recruitment, we use insights like these to help maritime businesses shape better people strategies. Whether you’re looking to hire, retain, or better understand what today’s professionals value, this report is an invaluable resource.
