The Maritime Transportation System (MTS) faces a crippling gap in attracting a new workforce.

Currently, there is a 50,000 gap in various roles in the MTS with projections of over 88,000 by 2030⁽¹⁾.

Deckhand specific gap is projected at 40 - 60% of this projection; equating to 35,200 - 52,800 new deckhands are needed to enter the workforce in the next decade.

1) Source: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/transportation-and-material-moving/water-transportation-occupations.htm (Sited July 16, 2024) Overall employment of water transportation workers is projected to grow 2 percent from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations. About 8,800 openings for water transportation workers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.