Third of farm workers leaving agriculture industry

The reputation of ag work as a “hard, dirty, labouring job with no future” is contributing to 35 per cent of the workforce expected to leave by 2026.

Victoria is on track to lose up to 35 per cent of its current on-farm workforce over a three-year period if employment forecasts prove accurate.

And one of the nation’s major employment agencies believes the figures reflect what is happening nationwide.

The Victorian Skills Authority estimates 4978 farmers will retire from 2023-2026, with only 3226 replaced.

The biggest loss is in livestock farmers, with 3019 expected to leave, while 1140 croppers and 808 mixed farmers are expected to hang up the boots.

And while the figures are startling for those working on farms, the whole agriculture, fisheries and forestry sector is forecast to have the lowest growth rate of all employment sectors of -1.8, compared to the biggest (healthcare and food service/accommodation) which will grow by 3.1 per cent.

Drover Ag managing director John Boote said he thought the 35 per cent net loss of on-farm staff was not only in Victoria but across Australia.

Mr Boote said agriculture was still “stigmatised as a hard, dirty labouring job with no future, and this is hurting the industry”.

“Most young people would never consider a career in agriculture due to this.” Mr Boote said.

“Ag university enrolments have been falling for a long time, and the dwindling pool of graduates are electing to go into support or advisory roles in agriculture and not into hands-on farm roles.”

Mr Boote said industry bodies needed to be more proactive in advertising agriculture as a career of choice.

He said state and federal governments should also consider subsidising young apprentices and trainees working in agriculture.

“Due to salary increases and constant increases to the pastoral awards, most farmers will not engage greenhorns (young unskilled people) as they don’t have time to train them,” Mr Boote said.

“The industry as a whole constantly requires skilled staff, but unfortunately, a large majority of them are not willing to train them.

“A more integrated system of short courses backed up by hands-on learning is a great way to upskill and retain workers but access and support for this type of education needs to be improved.”

Riverina-based Hay Inc trains young works in livestock and farming skills and program manager Sandra Ireson said it was a concern that people were leaving the industry or moving away from hands-on roles.

“The industry needs people who know how to and physically can do the work,” Ms Ireson said.

Hay Inc, which has been running for 10 years, is currently surveying is alumni to see how many have stayed in agriculture and how many have left.

“Early responses are that while they may not still be doing hands on roles, they are still working in agriculture or agribusiness, so that’s good,” Ms Ireson said.