Statistics: The Blue Economy in Great Britain
Feb 07, 2022This report consolidates key aspects of the European Commission's Blue Economy Reports between 2009 and 2019. The Blue Economy comprises those activities which take place on or around water. Records ceased when the UK left the European Union in 2019.
Economic trends in the Blue Economy
- Employment in the Blue Economy has seen slow growth with only a 9% change between 2009 and 2019 levels.
- Employment in coastal tourism has declined, whilst coastal expenditure and visits have been rising (see visit and expenditure data).
- The value added by Blue Economy workers has grown steadily, with each worker contributing an average of c.€1 million to the local economy.
Table 1: Great Britain Blue Economy statistics 2009-2013 by year as published by the European Union.
| Year | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | % Change |
| Gross Value Added (GVA) per employee (€ Euros) | 872,000 | 911,000 | 879,000 | 917,000 | 881,000 | 1% |
| Sector Employees | 508,286 | 496,591 | 499,549 | 506,496 | 526,171 | 4% |
| Average personnel costs (€ Euros) | 305,000 | 317,000 | 324,000 | 340,000 | 340,000 | 11% |
| Employed by coastal tourism & other services | 126,000 | 119,600 | 122,400 | 115,700 | 127,600 | 1% |
| Employed by building pleasure boats | 9,900 | 11,100 | 10,500 | 10,500 | 10,500 | 6% |
| Employed by manufacturing sports goods | 300 | 300 | 500 | 400 | 500 | 67% |
| Employed by service activities incidental to water transport | 19,500 | 20,000 | 19,600 | 21,000 | 22,100 | 13% |
Table 2: Great Britain Blue Economy statistics 2014-2019 by year as published by the European Union.
| Year | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | % Change |
| Gross Value Added (GVA) per employee (€ Euros) | 1,015,000 | 1,099,000 | 826,000 | 1,000,000 | 1,009,000 | 1,009,000 | -8% |
| Sector Employees | 456,251 | 436,616 | 503,973 | 491,406 | 517,296 | 517,150 | 18% |
| Average personnel costs (€ Euros) | 387,000 | 455,000 | 344,000 | 351,000 | 350,000 | 350,000 | -23% |
| Employed by coastal tourism & other services | 95,000 | 79,400 | 82,000 | 96,300 | 107,100 | 107,100 | 35% |
| Employed by building pleasure boats | 10,500 | 10,500 | 10,500 | 8,200 | 9,900 | 9,900 | -6% |
| Employed by manufacturing sports goods | 500 | 500 | 500 | 300 | 400 | 400 | -20% |
| Employed by service activities incidental to water transport | 22,000 | 22,600 | 22,400 | 22,500 | 22,400 | 22,400 | -1% |
References
European Commission. (2014-2019). The EU Blue Economy Report. Available at: https://blueindicators.ec.europa.eu/published-reports_en accessed 7th February 2022.
Citation. Jacklin, D. 2022. UK statistics for the blue economy. Water Incident Research Hub, 7th February 2022.
