Empirical analysis of brain drain of Chinese seafarers: Reasons and countermeasures

• Main Authors: Jia-qi Liu, Ying-en Ge, Yan Zhang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2021-01-01
• Series: Maritime Transport Research
• Subjects: Crew loss; Seafarer retention; Chinese seafarers
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666822X21000265

Since 2019, the problem of brain drain of seafarers in China has become more and more serious, which has a negative impact on the healthy and sustainable development of the shipping industry. As shown from the data of ''China Crew Development Report 2019'', the brain drain of seafarers in China is mainly concentrated on the third officers and fourth engineers. Semi-structured interviews and questionnaire surveys were conducted and quantitative and qualitative analysis was carried out from a macroscopic perspective. Main reasons for the brain drain of third officers and fourth engineers include narrowing income gap between “sea and land” work, low social status, difficulty in promotion, insufficient English proficiency, etc. Corresponding improvement measures have been proposed for the government, the competent authority, and maritime colleges and universities with a view to slow down the brain drain of seafarers.