The policy implications of market failure for the land-based jobs market for British seafarers

People with seafaring experience and skills are employed in the maritime sector of the UK economy in land-based jobs as well as in seagoing ones. This paper examines the balance of supply and demand in the land-based jobs market. It then considers the likely effects of a shortfall in the supply of British ships’ officers to fill net vacancies in jobs ashore, including the policy implications of this and the consequences for the economyʹs maritime skills base if the Government fails to act decisively now to correct market failure.