Agriculture
Overview
This page provides high level information and data on the Agricultural industry which comprises the following industry sectors: production horticulture, broadacre farming, livestock farming, mixed crop and livestock farming, agriculture support services and wholesaling.
In 2017, around 272,500 people were employed in the Agriculture and Agriculture and Fishing Support Services. However, this does not include all employment activity throughout the supply chain.
Please visit the following pages for data specific to the following agricultural sectors
Visit the following pages for more information on Amenity Horticulture and Conservation, Animal Care and Management, Food and Pharmaceutical Production, Transport, Retail and Wholesale, and Tourism, Travel and Hospitality industries.
All data sources are available at the end of the page.
IRC and Skills Forecasts
Industry cluster snapshot
Employment and training snapshot
Employment in the Agriculture and Agriculture and Fishing Support Services industries has declined by around a third between 2000 and 2017.
Program enrolments in agriculture-related qualifications in 2016 were around 51,000, which has declined from around 59,600 in 2014.
Industry insights on skills needs
The Agriculture and Production Horticulture industry is diverse and comprises many industry sectors and sub-sectors including:
- Production Horticulture:
- Nursey production and retail
- Floriculture production
- Vegetable growing
- Fruit and nut tree growing
- Viticulture.
- Broadacre farming:
- Grain growing
- Fodder growing
- Sugarcane growing
- Cotton growing
- Seed production.
- Livestock farming:
- Sheep
- Beef cattle
- Dairy cattle
- Poultry
- Deer
- Pigs
- Bees.
- Mixed crop and livestock farming
- Agricultural support services:
- Aerial agricultural services
- Shearing
- Contract crop harvesting
- Animal testing
- Cotton ginning and trading.
- Agricultural product wholesaling.
According to the Agriculture, Horticulture and Conservation and Land Management Industry Reference Committee (IRC) Skills Forecast key macro forces that currently challenge and provide opportunities for the industry’s sectors and its workforce include:
- The high level of regulation the industry operates under.
- The significance of global food security and higher food demand in expanding markets such as the Asia Pacific region, which is being reflected in a number of government policies aimed at facilitating growth in the sector (e.g. free trade agreements). The challenge is for businesses to benefit from government program and policies by becoming export-ready, culturally literate and market savvy.
- There are national and state-/territory-based biosecurity policies and strategies to combat pests and diseases that could have a negative impact on production and access to markets.
- Climate change and its effects on agricultural crops and biosecurity will create both challenges and opportunities for many producers to capitalise on technology and increase collaboration in supply chains to support the development of more resilient crop varieties and large-scale farming systems.
- Water and land availability, as the industry faces strains on access to freshwater, managing water resources more efficiently, population growth and urban expansion into farmland, and competing demands for land and resources.
- New global farming trends, including the growth of new food sources; improved pharmaceuticals related to, for example, bugs on food and agricultural waste; and new sources of stockfeed and fertiliser increasing international trade, create both challenges and opportunities for agricultural producers.
- The role of research, innovation and applied technology in the development of precision agriculture technologies – for example, drones and new chemical solutions – that help growers to increase productivity.
- The industry has an ageing workforce, and about 23 per cent of the industry’s workforce is likely to retire over the next five years.
- A significant number of the industry’s workforce occupy roles that are unique and specific to the relevant sub-sectors, such as livestock and crop farmers, farm workers, shearers, agricultural and horticultural plant operators, nurserypersons and other nursery workers, and gardeners.
- The industry also employs a significant number of other occupations such as clerical and administrative workers, process workers, mobile plant operators, road and rail drivers, agricultural scientists, and veterinarians.
- Investment in new technology means there is less reliance on farm labour.
- Seasonal nature of employment in the agriculture industry means it is more appealing to seasonal workers from overseas, who are an important source of labour for the industry. The Pacific Islander Seasonal Worker Programme and skilled migrants from Asia and Africa are also sources of labour for Australian farms, but there are challenges due to migration policies and ongoing pressure on the government.
Given these factors, the Skills Forecast identifies a range of priority skills needs to ensure the workforce is able to face the challenges identified above.
- New technology means new skills are required to safely operate machinery and new technology
- Issues with biosecurity means skills in pest management are required
- Chemical application and management skills
- Skills in production nurseries
- Skills in data capture and analysis
- Advanced skills in rural management in business
- Skills in irrigation design and management
- Skills in viticulture
- Skills in apiculture
- Skills in Carbon Farming.
Relevant research
2016 Agrifood talent report – Agricultural Appointments
Agricultural competitiveness white paper: stronger farmers, stronger economy –Australian Government
A workforce development strategy for the Australian cotton industry – Agrifood Skills Solution
Current knowledge on workforce issues in Victorian agriculture: primary industries policy discussion paper – Dr Lisa Cowan, Social Researcher with Rural Development and Transition Policy Unit
Empowering women in agriculture: Australia and beyond – Tess Marslen, Future Directions International
Industry outlook: agriculture, forestry and fishing – Australian Government, Department of Employment
National agriculture workforce development plan – National Farmers’ Federation
New immigrants improving productivity in Australian agriculture – Agrifutures Australia
Readiness to meet demand for skills: a study of five growth industries – Francesca Beddie, Mette Creaser, Jo Hargreaves, Adrian Ong, National Centre for Vocational Education Research
Report on South Australia's industry priority qualifications – South Australian Training and Skills Commission
Sector profile: agriculture, forestry and fishing – South Australian Training and Skills Commission
Transitioning regional economies – Productivity Commission
Links and resources
Below is a list of industry-relevant organisations and associations. Hyperlinks have been included where available.
Industry associations and advisory bodies
Agricultural Supply Wholesaling
Apple and Pear Australia Limited
Australasian Alpaca Breeders Association
Australia Wool Testing Authority
Australian Association of Stud Merino Breeders
Australian Banana Growers' Council
Australian Blueberry Growers' Association
Australian Cane Farmers Association
Australian Chicken Growers' Council
Australian Cotton Ginners Association
Australian Cotton Shippers Association
Australian Dairy Herd Improvement Scheme
Australian Dairy Industry Council
Australian Egg Corporation Limited
Australian Environmental Pest Managers Association
Australian Fodder Industry Association
Australian Honey Bee Industry Council Inc.
Australian Institute of Horticulture
Australian Livestock & Property Agents Association
Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters' Association
Australian Livestock Exporters’ Council
Australian Lot Feeders' Association
Australian Lychee Growers Association
Australian Macadamia Society Ltd
Australian Mango Industry Association
Australian Melon Association Inc.
Australian Mungbean Association
Australian Mushroom Growers’ Association Ltd
Australian Nut Industry Council
Australian Oilseeds Federation
Australian Organics Recycling Association
Australian Ostrich Association
Australian Pecan Growers Association Inc.
Australian Pig Breeders Association
Australian Pineapple Association
Australian Queen Bee Breeders’ Association
Australian Society of Horticultural Science
Australian Society of Viticulture and Oenology
Australian Sunflower Association
Australian Sweetpotato Growers Inc.
Australian Table Grape Association
Corporate Agriculture Australia
Cotton Research and Development Corporation
Crocodile Farmers Association of the Northern Territory
Dairy Goat Society of Australia
Deer Industry Association of Australia
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Flower Export Council of Australia
Goat Industry Council of Australia
Grain and Feed Trade Association
Grains Research and Development Corporation
Hazelnut Growers of Australia Inc
Honey Packers & Marketers Association of Australia Inc
Horticulture Innovation Australia
Institute of Australian Geographers
Livestock Biosecurity Network Inc
Local Government Tree Resources Association
Maize Association of Australia
National Feedlot Accreditation Scheme
National Herd Improvement Association of Australia Incorporated
Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association
Organic Federation of Australia
Pistachio Growers Association Inc
Potato Processing Association of Australia
Raspberries and Blackberries Australia
Rice Growers’ Association of Australia
Shearing Contractors’ Association of Australia
Sheepmeat Council of Australia
South Australian Wine Industry Association
Sustainable Gardening Australia
The Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand
The Queensland Agriculture Workforce Network
Tropical Exotic Fruit Australia
Utility Arborist Association Australia
Wheat Exports Australia
Wool Classers' Association of Australia
Data sources and notes
Department of Employment, 2017, Employment Projections, available from the Labour Market Information Portal
- by ANZSIC 2 and 3 digit industry, employment projections to May 2022
- 01 Agriculture
- 052 Agriculture and Fishing Support Services.
Australian Bureau of Statistics 2017, Employed persons by Industry group of main job (ANZSIC), sex, state and territory, November 1984 onwards, 6291.0.55.003 - EQ06, viewed 1 September 2017 <http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/DetailsPage/6291.0.55.003May%202017?OpenDocument>
- Employed total by ANZSIC 2 and 3 digit Industry, 2000 to 2017, May Quarter
- 01 Agriculture
- 052 Agriculture and Fishing Support Services.
Training data has been extracted from the National VET Provider Collection, Total VET Students and Courses, 2016 Program Enrolments by AHC – Agriculture, Horticulture and Conservation and Land Management Training Package.
Priority skills data has been extracted from Agriculture, Horticulture and Conservation and Land Management Industry Reference Committee (IRC) Skills Forecast. Each IRC has prioritised and ranked the generic skills.
Burning Glass Technologies: Labor insight – real-time labor market information tool <http://www.burning-glass.com> 2017.
- Job advertisements from all of Australia from January 2014 to August 2017 are included in the analysis. Data shown is the top five advertised VET-related occupations (4 digit level occupations) in the Agriculture industry and the top five locations according to job advertisements.
- Skills data has also been extracted from the Burning Glass labour insights job vacancy data tool. Data shown is the proportion of job advertisements which request generic skills for VET-related occupations in the industry and occupations listed above.