Prospective Branches of the Maritime Economy and Changes in the Labor Market of the Maritime Economy Sector in West Pomeranian Voivodeship

Due to great natural conditions, development of West Pomerania region since historical times has been strongly connected with functioning of the maritime economy. 185 km of coastline and a network of preferably formed inland waterways allow such industries as shipbuilding, maritime transport, versatile port activities, fishing and fish processing, become pillars of the regional and national economy. The aim of this paper is to analyze the changes in the labour market that have occurred within the dominant branches of the maritime sector in recent years in West Pomeranian Voivodeship. The results show the impact of changing global economic conditions on regional employment in the maritime sector. The study contains also concepts and new proposals of local authorities, which are to be implemented to stabilize the economic situation of the traditional branches of the maritime sector in the region. The development strategies paid particular attention to the newly emerging branches of maritime economy, which in future could complement and increase the diversity of the labour market of the maritime sector. Several branches are considered as especially promising: water tourism, modernization of ports and shipping lanes, intermodal transport and logistics, offshore/onshore investments (such as gas terminal, wind power plants, shore protection).