ASK most people how they found themselves enjoying a career in shipping and they’ll likely tell you they fell into shipping by accident.

The maritime sector contributes £14.5bn ($19.77bn) to the UK economy and employs some 1.1m people in the UK, yet it is one of the most invisible and under-appreciated sectors.

The UK government released its Maritime 2050 plan back in 2019 which aimed to look at how to future-proof the sector, but there appears to have been little progress in workforce research and projecting the skills needed.

A Maritime Skills Commission convened for two years back in July 2020 has yet to deliver any substantive conclusions, at a time when the industry has seen two shipping ministers come and go, and a third still finding his sea legs.

Lloyd’s List attended a maritime careers fair last month during London International Shipping Week held on board the HQS Wellington.

It was organised by Maritime UK, and aimed to educate children and young adults about what a future career in the maritime sector would look like.

Markets Editor Michelle Wiese Bockmann examines why more future employees need to be found by design, not by accident, and what jobs are waiting for them.