The Greek Seamen’s Pension Fund (NAT) recently published its report on seafarer employment in Greece, revealing significant trends in workforce demographics, employment structure, and sectoral developments. The total number of registered seafarers has risen to 26,902, marking a 2.6% increase from 2024. In August 2025, the count stood at 18,537, reflecting a 2.5% rise compared to the same month in the previous year.
The seafarer workforce remains predominantly male, with over 90% identifying as male and about 70% aged between 18 and 45. However, female participation is on the rise, increasing from 1,237 in 2020 to 2,190 in 2025—a 77% growth over six years. Women now constitute 8.1% of the seafarer workforce, significantly surpassing global averages. Most female seafarers work in passenger shipping, indicating a strong correlation between women’s maritime employment and tourism.
Employment is concentrated in three main vessel categories: passenger ships, tankers, and cargo vessels. In 2025, tankers represented 28.6% of employment, with passenger shipping employing 12,324 seafarers. The workforce is divided between officers and lower-ranked crew, with a stable number of cadets and trainees. Seasonality influences employment patterns, with 53.2% engaged for seven months or more. Additionally, a growing number of senior maritime professionals are transitioning to shore-based roles, reflecting evolving career pathways within the sector.
