Scotland's Marine Economic Statistics 2023
Statistics on the economic contributions of Scotland’s marine sectors. Includes a time series of approximate Gross Value Added (aGVA), turnover and employment for industrial categories defined as part of the marine sector.
Part of
Construction and water transport services include:
- Construction of waterways, harbours, marinas, locks and river works.
- Construction of dams and dredging of waterways.
- Operation of harbours, piers and waterway locks.
- Navigation, pilotage, berthing, lighterage, salvage and lighthouse activities.
This excludes cargo handling and operation of marinas.
Marine construction and water transport services are key for connectivity and supporting growth for the marine economy. Scottish Annual Business Statistics provides the construction and water transport services data. See Data and Methodology for more information.
In 2023, marine construction and water transport services generated £427 million in aGVA. This was 0.23% of the Scottish economy, and 8% of the marine economy. Marine construction and water transport services employed 4,100 people in 2023. This was 0.15% of Scottish employment, and 5% of marine economy employment.
Construction and water transport services aGVA increased by 1% between 2022 and 2023. Employment rose by 11% between 2022 and 2023. In the longer term, construction and water transport services aGVA decreased by 30% between 2014 and 2023 (Figure 8).
Figure 8. Construction and water transport services aGVA increased to £753 million in 2017 before decreasing steadily to £359 million in 2021.
Construction and water transport services aGVA by year, 2014 to 2023
A geographic breakdown of construction and water transport services are not available.