The Regional Ministry of Business, Employment and Energy has awarded €2.8 million this year to help people achieve professional qualifications in the nautical sector by combining paid work with training

More than 600 people are participating in the various activities organised by the Balearic Islands Employment Service at the Palma International Boat Show to raise awareness of career
opportunities in the nautical industry

The Balearic Islands Employment Service has already managed more than 150 work and work-study placements in the nautical sector during the first three months of 2025. The entity, which is part of the Regional Ministry of Business, Employment and Energy, has been working for more than five years through its nautical division to raise awareness of the career opportunities in this industry, which is considered
strategic for the economy of the Balearic Islands. Specifically, 72 positions have been managed for companies in the nautical sector, covering 40% of the total, and 82 places for work-study programmes in the nautical sector, covering 90% of the total. In addition, during the same period, the guidance service has provided individualised assistance to 56 people.

Through its nautical division, the SOIB works with companies to identify training needs and raise awareness of career opportunities in a sector considered strategic for the economy of the Balearic Islands. All this with the aim of creating a pool of new professionals for the industry, which generates a turnover of 1.106 billion euros and is responsible for 5,145 jobs, according to data from the Balearic Marine Cluster, which actively collaborates with the Balearic Islands Employment Service.

For this year, 2025, the SOIB has awarded 2,817. €414,26 for seven projects in which, over a period of 12 months, more than 140 people will participate, achieving professional qualifications through a work-study contract (a type of contract that allows paid work to be combined with training) within the framework of the vocational training and on-the- job training system. These projects are carried out by the entities providing the training and 61 private companies in the sector. The existing professional certificates are for
auxiliary maintenance operations on sports and recreational boat systems and equipment, auxiliary and support activities for ships in port, painting, repair and construction of fibre- reinforced plastic elements for sports and recreational boats, and auxiliary maintenance operations on structural elements and surface coatings of sports and recreational boats.

To publicise all these activities and bring the nautical sector closer to all interested parties, the SOIB is participating once again in the Palma International Boat Show, which is being held until 3 May at the Moll Viejo. The Balearic Islands Employment Service and the Directorate General for Vocational Training and Educational Planning are present at the boat show with an information stand and a programme
of activities that includes a conference for guidance staff from secondary schools, POAPs and the SOIB’s regional and sectoral offices in Mallorca; visits to the fair by students from vocational training centres and secondary schools; and a round table discussion on the present and future of nautical training in the Balearic Islands. A total of 638 people will participate in the SOIB’s activities at the Palma International
Boat Show.