Blue Denmark Maintains Economic Foothold

For the second time, the Economic Council of the Labour Movement has drawn up a report on employment and production in Blue Denmark for the Danish Maritime Authority. This year, the report is based on national accounts figures until 2011 and figures on production and value added until 2014, therefore offering a more updated picture than the one given in last year's report, which was based on 2009 figures.

In 2009, the maritime industry accounted for 22.5 percent of total Danish exports, and in 2011 this figure was 24.4 percent, the report found. Thus, in terms of production and value added, Blue Denmark's share of the Danish economy is increasing.

In addition, the report states that the production trend for the shipping and shipbuilding industries is slightly better than developments in the overall Danish economy. Especially the marine equipment industry distinguishes itself by having a high growth in productivity. However, productivity developments in oil and gas have been negative since 2005 as a consequence of decreasing production and value added in the North Sea. This fact, combined with decreasing productivity in the category of supporting services (ports, shipping agents, etc.), means that, all in all, Blue Denmark has experienced a negative productivity trend during the period.

If developments in recent 10 years are considered, the total level of employment, i.e. the sum of direct and indirect employment in Blue Denmark, remains almost unchanged. In 2004, employment in the maritime professions accounted for 3.9 percent of total Danish employment, while the figure was 3.8 percent in 2014.