New knowledge about gender equality in the maritime industry
News story | Date: 20/05/2022 | Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries
A new study shows that the share of women in the maritime sector remains low, and that structural, cultural and practical barriers can explain why few women work in the sector. The Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Policy, Bjørnar Skjæran, will now bring the parties in the maritime sector together to discuss the study and the government's work on an equality strategy for the sector.
– This is an important study covering a topic where it has been important for me to contribute to positive change. The study is a key contribution for us to get an overview of the status for gender equality in the maritime sector. It will be a significant part of the factual basis for the government's forthcoming strategy for equality in the maritime sector, says Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Policy Bjørnar Selnes Skjæran.
In January 2022, the Ministry of Trade and Industry commissioned the Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences to map the status of diversity and gender equality in the maritime industry. The study, which now is published, presents the current situation and historical development for diversity and gender equality in the maritime sector, and sheds light on the factors that promote and hinder gender equality. It also assesses the socio-economic effects of increased diversity and gender equality in the sector.
The International Day for Women in Maritime
The study was published on the International Day for Women in Maritime, which was marked for the first time on 18 May.
– Awareness of gender equality in all sectors is important, and especially in sectors with significant gender imbalance There is still a long way to go to achieve gender equality in the maritime sector, both in general and with regard to harassment, for which we have zero tolerance. Many of the measures recommended in the report will have to be addressed by companies themselves, and I will contribute to make this happen. This is why I intend to bring the parties in the maritime sector together to discuss how we collectively can raise these issues, and how we should proceed to improve the situation, both in the short and long term. I will initiate such a meeting before the summer, says Skjæran.
Some key findings in the study
- The relative number of women in the maritime sector is generally low. Among those who work on ships 11% are women. In the broader maritime sector (supplier, shipping, transport, services and shipyards) women makes up 21% of the workforce.
- Women generally earn less than men in the maritime sector, also when accounting for education, job title and age. The differences are largest in shipping and transport. In the shipyard segment, there are significantly less differences. Beyond this, there does not appear to be a clear pattern in wage differences between ship and land-based industries or between segments.
- Women makes up about 20% of the students in the university and college sector. This share has been relatively stable over time, despite large variations within some studies some years. Within higher vocational education, there is mainly an increasing trend, with a larger share of female applicants