Survey Findings: Women’s Representation in Maritime Roles
The 2024 survey by the IMO and WISTA International highlights that women in maritime account for just 19 percent of all employees in the maritime sector worldwide. This figure belies significant variation across subsectors. Onshore, women dominate fields such as public relations, marketing, advertising, crewing, and recruitment. At sea, however, they represent only 1 percent of the active seafaring workforce, underscoring both advancement and persistent obstacles in achieving gender diversity within offshore operations.
In the private sector, women comprise 16 percent of the combined shoreside and seafaring workforce—a notable decline from 29 percent in the inaugural 2021 survey. This drop reflects changes in the pool of participating companies rather than an abrupt reversal of gender diversity gains. Among the 179 vessel operators surveyed, just 85 actively employ women aboard; one firm candidly admitted, “We do not hire women in offshore support vessels.”
Challenges and Calls for Action
Despite increasing female presence ashore, the industry still grapples with entrenched barriers:
- Gender Stereotyping & Discrimination: 29 percent of women maritime professionals cite discrimination as a major career hurdle, yet only 13 percent of firms employ bias-training programs.
- Lack of Gender Equality Policies: The majority of organizations lack formal gender‐equality frameworks.
- Workplace Safety & Family-Friendly Policies: Concerns over onboard safety and insufficient support for families deter many from maritime careers.
- Persistent Pay Gap: Women in comparable roles often earn less than their male counterparts.
IMO Secretary-General Antonio Dominguez emphasized the need to “redouble our efforts to foster a truly diverse and inclusive maritime industry” as the sector moves toward a digital and decarbonized future. WISTA International President Elpi Petraki urged cultural change through the flagship Women in Maritime programme, now in its fourth decade, to ensure talent is recognised and nurtured—regardless of gender.
The 2024 survey confirms that while women have made inroads into shoreside maritime roles, significant work remains to translate these gains into the seafaring domain. Addressing stereotyping, safety, policy gaps, and pay disparities will be crucial to achieving genuine gender diversity and strengthening the global maritime workforce.
