Why talent is now the shipping industry’s greatest competitive advantage

When people think of ports and shipping, they often picture cranes, cargo containers, and massive vessels. What they might overlook is the workforce behind it all. In Jamaica, the true strength of our shipping industry is not just in our infrastructure — it is in the people who make it work.

Across the Caribbean, employers face a tightening labour market. Skilled workers are in high demand, migration patterns are shifting, and younger professionals are choosing careers more carefully. Meanwhile, the shipping and logistics industry must respond faster to global supply chain disruptions, adopt new technologies, and maintain operations during climate-related events that have become increasingly common.

Recent events have shown how dependent port and logistics operations are on a prepared, engaged, and resilient workforce. Supervisors keep teams coordinated, front-line workers adapt under pressure, and managers balance operational demands with workforce well-being. Productivity, reliability, and service quality now depend as much on people as on cranes or computer systems.

In Jamaica’s goal to become a regional logistics hub, competing ports are investing not just in infrastructure but in skills, leadership, and organisational culture. Attracting and retaining competent professionals, from operations and safety to planning and administration, has become just as important as physical capacity.

At the Shipping Association of Jamaica, we see businesses asking new questions. How can we reduce turnover? How can we prepare supervisors to lead multigenerational teams? How can we build resilience into the workforce not just the facilities? The answers lie in treating talent as an investment. Workforce planning must align with long-term goals, training must match industry needs, and leadership development must happen at every level, not only among executives.

As Jamaica navigates opportunity and uncertainty in the global trading environment, our shipping sector’s success will depend on people — their skills, adaptability, and commitment to excellence. Investing in talent is no longer optional. It is the foundation for the sector’s competitiveness and long-term growth.

Terrence Brooks is general manager, Shipping Association of Jamaica