Recruitment will be a key task
Report from the Danish Maritime Authority Shows Strong Figures for Employment, Exports, and Productivity in Blue Denmark

A new report from the Danish Maritime Authority reveals that Blue Denmark makes a significant contribution to the Danish economy, boasting impressive figures for both employment and exports. Furthermore, shipping ranks among the most productive industries in Denmark. Recruitment will be a key task in the years to come.
Each year, the Danish Maritime Authority publishes a report on employment and production in Blue Denmark. This year’s report examines data from 2022, which was, in many ways, an extraordinary year for shipping. Nevertheless, several conclusions from the report are worth highlighting.
There are over 100,000 employees in Blue Denmark when indirect employment is included. In 2022, the total number of employees was 103,539, of whom 66,010 were directly employed in Blue Denmark. This figure includes seafarers, employees in shipping offices, the maritime industry, ports, and more.
“Blue Denmark is a key strength that significantly contributes to the Danish economy with more than 100,000 direct and indirect employees across the country. We can be proud of that,” says Jacob K. Clasen, Deputy Director General of the Danish Shipping Association.
In 2022, exports from Blue Denmark amounted to DKK 615 billion, equivalent to 37.4% of Denmark’s total export of goods and services. This historic high is partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which created additional demand for Danish shipping companies.
Danish shipping experienced a productivity growth of 6.0% annually between 2010 and 2020, compared to 1.3% in the overall Danish economy during the same period.
In terms of age distribution, the workforce in Blue Denmark is aging. The proportion of employees aged 50 and over increased from about 32% in 2012 to nearly 40% in 2022. At the same time, the industry faces a pressing need to ensure the workforce is prepared to handle tasks related to the green transition. According to the report, green investments will create substantial demand for qualified employees in the maritime cluster through 2035.
“The impressive results achieved by many Danish shipping companies are, of course, largely due to the skilled people working there. While we can take pride in having many talented and experienced employees in the industry, it’s clear that we face a significant task in attracting the next generations of seafarers and shipping employees with the right skills to support the green transition. If we are to maintain Blue Denmark as a Danish stronghold in the future, this must be a top priority in the government’s upcoming growth plan for Blue Denmark,” says Jacob K. Clasen.