Nowadays, it is harder than ever for students to get an internship or job. According to EUROSTAT (June 2021), 2.967 million young persons (under 25) were unemployed in the EU, i.e. 17% unemployment rate. However, this figure increases in some countries, the employment rate for youth in Spain gets to 33% (2019). In addition, an increased number of employed persons aged 15-34 reported that their current main job does not correspond at all to their level of education, according to the EUROSTAT.

Oceanographers, marine scientists and marine consultants know well the struggle and the difficulties to find a qualified job within the marine environment sectors after graduation.

According to the European Marine Board, graduate education (Masters and Doctorate) in marine sciences and engineering accounted for only a tiny percentage of university programmes in Europe.

However, recent data supports the need of marine experts in the growing sector.

According to the European Comission, the established sectors of the EU Blue Economy (fisheries and aquaculture, shipping, ports and harbours, maritime transport and coastal tourism) directly employed close to 5 million people in 2018. In the last year, the blue jobs in EU has increased by 11.6% mainly driven by the coastal tourism sector. Jobs in the offshore wind energy sector have multiplied nine-fold in less than 10 years. The Blue Economy emerging and innovative sectors include marine renewable energy, blue bioeconomy and biotechnology, marine minerals, desalination, maritime defence, and submarine cables. These sectors offer significant potential, especially as regards renewable energies where the EU is in the lead hosting 70 % of global ocean energy (wave and tidal) installed capacity in its waters.

In addition, the first job a graduate takes after college often has a significant impact on the rest of their career. For example, graduates who obtain a role that has little to do with their area of study (or doesn’t require a degree at all) are more likely to stay in either it or a related role for the next five years. Individuals find it difficult to deviate from that path once chosen, decreasing their odds of obtaining employment in their field.

Blue-jobs presents the solution for job seekers: find lots of job opportunities in marine sciences in one single platform at the same time that stay updated with the latest news of the sector. Either you are a recent graduate looking for an internship or you are a senior professional, blue-jobs will help you to make the most of your blue career.