The UNE study found agricultural workers were younger by five years, than previous records.(ABC Open: Brigid Price)
Researchers say Australia's agricultural workforceis vastly underestimated, with the number of employees contributing to the economy potentially double what was previously thought.
New data released by the University of New England (UNE) revealsthe most recent Census only included agricultural workers if they worked on farm.
According to the new study, the Census neglected other professions such as agronomists, lawyers and accountants in the agricultural sector.
UNE Agribusiness lecturer Lucie Newsome said the professional workforce was made up of almost 14,000 people – with about half previously not counted.
We've now looked at other jobs down the value chain, Dr Newsome said.
The agricultural industry is much more educated,diverse, and younger than we thought.
It was believed three per cent of the farmingindustry had a tertiary education or higher.
With more professional jobs added, this figure bumped up to 16 per cent, with majority using business management skills.
The new study found more than 16 percent of the workforce had a tertiary degree or higher.(ABC News: Bec Whetham)
The study also found the industry was under-serviced by more than 20 per cent.
If we now include those other professions, we can see that a lot of people are educated or skilled in agriculturebut are now working outside of the industry,Dr Newsome said.
Forty per centof the 13,390 people in the sector didn't work exclusively in agriculture, yet were found to bemaking important contributions to it.
Females also made up more than half ofagricultural science degrees graduates, yet only around 30 per cent were involved in professional agriculture jobs.
We found that females who were previously employed in the agricultural industry havebranched into their own enterprises, she said.
The average age of 49 years old also dropped to40–44 years old.
I think going forward in our research, I'd like to know if this is because a lot of workers now need to diversify and get off-farm income, Dr Newsome said.
Students seekstability
The study didn't surprise Farrer Agricultural Memorial School's Clint Gallagher.
The Tamworth principal said a stable income was the main priority, with many students entering tertiary education whilst working in trade or on-farm careers.
There's businesses like a meatworks in Dubbo who employ trainees, but support them in university studies, Mr Gallagher said.
Principal Clint Gallagher says ag-science has become more sophisticated in student learning.(ABC New England: Kemii Maguire)
It's about attracting more money. Someone whose wanting to be a farm-hand, they will go into specialties such as artificial insemination, for example, to make themselves more employable.
Mr Gallagher said the curriculum has also become more diverse, mirroring the industry.
I think a lot of young people have seen their family go through hard times in the industry, and need a completely different skill to keep the income going.
They need to diversify. They need to have a stable career in agriculture. That's where the education comes in.
Metal fabrication, electrical, and mechanical jobs had the most popular interest last year.(ABC New England: Kemii Maguire)
Farrer had also seen a major uptick in employers reaching out to students.
We've had accountants, law firms, banks, agronomists calling us and wanting to put a student through uni, work with them, and keep them in the country, Mr Gallagher said.
I've never seen this much competition for students in agriculture ever.
It would be 50 to 100 per cent higher than what I've seen in my 20 years working here.
Along with the pandemic creating workers shortages, Mr Gallagher said other factor such as drought also added to the job vacancy increases.
You had a drought across a lot of Australia, so other people went and found other work. Now they want them back.
So, maybe the industry is looking at how they can securethat workforce moving forward.
https://www.news.com.au/finance/work/at-work/shifted-expectations-1-in-5-aussies-quit-their-jobs-in-the-last-year/news-story/c28970b577b46ab61b0caf3c0a6cd68a
