Technological development
One of the most central megatrends in our society is the enormous technological development. While digitalization and new technology has made a lot of processes easier, it also increases the need for expertise and education to be able to use the innovations stimulated by the changes.
Photo: Silje Robinson
As a consequence, our partners and members request people with competence on the field.
– There is always a big demand for technologists, and our partners and members have uttered a wish for more applicants with a background in technology, says Cathrine.
It is, in other words an industry with a lot of potential for young people interested in technology.
New technology also creates a space which have to be filled by people with expertise in other fields. A central example is the need for more knowledge connected to RAS and semi-closed containment systems.
Even though we know more now than a few years ago, there is still need for more knowledge. Obviously, people with technology background are needed, but according to a report from 2021, the need for increased knowledge within biology, productivity, fish health and fish welfare are also essential. People with education in economy are also necessary.
This shows how a major technological improvement can affect the need for competence in several ways.
The importance of sustainability
Working towards a more sustainable world is also an apparent (and important) trend. The aim to reach UNs sustainable development goals, implies that a lot of industries need to make changes and improvements. Knowledge about sustainability and circular business models are therefore attractive qualities for employees in the seafood industry.
Photo: Silje Robinson
Consequently, a lot of schools offers more education on the subject. For example, NHH offers a specialisation in seafood management where sustainability is one of the main themes throughout the program. Innovation, technology, economics and finance are also in the program, and it shows that succeeding with sustainability often is dependent on many factors and aspects.
For a lot of young people, sustainability is also a factor they consider when choosing their work. Rakel Ottesen is an example. She was a Seafood Trainee at Lerøy the previous year, and she is now working full time as an Improvement Analyst for the company.
– One of the reasons why I wanted to become a Seafood Trainee was the opportunity to contribute to further development of an industry in enormous growth, with an extensive focus on innovation, efficiency, and sustainability, she says.
Seafood Trainee is a tool for attracting the best candidates and talent to support the sustainable development in the seafood value chain. By giving the recent graduates a proper introduction to the whole value chain, they can use their previous knowledge combined with new to contribute to making improvements.
Broad competence is key
In a 2019 report from BI the authors describe how the aquaculture industry is more and more dependent on competent employees to be innovative, have sustainable growth and make use of ongoing research.
Clearly, technological development and the focus on sustainability makes it more important to have the correct competence in the seafood industry, but what competence is that? It looks like the answer is that the industry needs to attract people with different expertise. Building all the employees’ knowledge about sustainability also seems like an important step forward.
Sources:
BI-report (2019): https://sjomatnorge.no/app/uploads/2019/08/BI_2019_En-konkurransedyktig-og-kunnskapsbasert-havbruksn%C3%A6ring.pdf
Report from Nærings- og fiskeridepartementet (2021): https://www.regjeringen.no/contentassets/e430ad7a314e4039a90829fcd84c012a/no/pdfs/et-hav-av-muligheter.pdf
Report from Stiim: https://stiimaquacluster.no/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Stiim-Rapport-Flytende-Lukket-Oppdrett-i-sjo.pdf.pdf
NHH: https://www.nhh.no/en/executive/executive-mba/specialisation-in-seafood-management/