Agriculture Jobs in Australia

Is Agriculture in Demand in Australia?

Agriculture is one of the biggest industries contributing to Australia’s economic growth. According to Graduate Careers Australia, there are an estimated 126,000 full-time farmers across Australia. Combined, they produce around AU$137 billion of agricultural products annually, which is over 12% of Australia’s gross domestic product. The agriculture sector and related industries can support approximately 1.6 million Australian workers.

Australia has been in severe need of agriculture workers due to the worker shortage in the country for the past two years.

With a large workforce, many agriculture businesses struggle to stay afloat amidst the post-pandemic worker shortage. Agriculture workers are in high demand, and many businesses struggle to secure skilled and experienced workers close to home and abroad. There is a serious interest in securing skilled workers for Australian businesses to ensure the many industries would be able to operate well.

The data provided by the Australian Bureau of Statistics through their Labour Force Survey (FLS) estimates that Australian agriculture, fisheries and forestry employed 325,000 workers on average over the 4th quarter to August 2021, with the horticulture and broadacre (livestock and cropping) industries accounting for the vast majority of workers. However, total employment is underestimated due to the significant number of overseas workers employed across the sectors.

With the number of workers needed but severely lacking available workforce, there are massive opportunities for many agricultural jobs. This quickly makes a career in agriculture a critical consideration for those seeking employment in the Australian agricultural sector.

Please speak to our career development consultants to learn more about your eligibility and secure your dream agriculture job in Australia.

How Big is the Australian Agriculture Industry?

for roughly 12% of the nation’s GDP. The livestock industry provides approximately 60% of the country’s meat and food consumption. Most agricultural commodities are exported to international markets, with 80% of all wheat, 90% of all wool and over 50% of barley.

Agriculture is also one of Australia’s most diverse industries, offering a vast range of occupations with varying degrees of opportunities. According to the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (ABARES), the agricultural sector accounts for 55% of Australian land use (an estimated 427 million hectares, excluding the land used for timber production, in December 2020) and 24% of water extractions (2,746 gigalitres used by agriculture in 2019-2020);

The agriculture sector also contributes 12% of goods and services exports in 2020-2021, while the entirety of the agriculture sector accounts for 1.9% of value added (GDP) and 2.5% of employment in 2020-2021.

The expansive arable land and large-scale farming activities flourish, livestock rearing facilities and various agricultural thrives. The agriculture industry benefited from the vast landscape, which was ideal for ranchers and livestock rearing businesses.

What are the primary Agriculture industries in Australia?

Australian agricultural industries are a combination of various sectors that supports the economy and the country’s livelihood. This shows how diverse and vast the farm sector is; the entire industry is greatly determined by the climate, water availability, soil type and proximity to markets.

In recent years, Australia has experienced a trend toward higher temperatures and lower Winter rainfall. This has directly impacted industry performance. It produces a large variety of primary products for both domestic and export markets.

ABARES presents a map that displays the estimation of land used by the different businesses within the agricultural industry. 

Australia’s most significant agricultural businesses are;

a. Australian Crops Outlook

The crop industry’s production is forecast to reach $45 billion in 2022-2023. It reflects excellent results. The gross value of all significant crop commodities is expected to reach;

• • Wheat – $12.7 billion (second highest on record)
  • Barley – $3.6 billion (second highest on record)
  • Canola – $5.1 billion (second highest on record)
  • Cotton – $3.5 billion (second highest on record)
  • Horticulture – $13.5 billion (record high)

The value of Australian crop exports is expected to increase significantly. Australia’s production will offset the high demand of the global market due to geopolitical conditions.

b. Australian Livestock Outlook

The livestock industry’s production is forecast to increase by 1.2% to $35 billion in 2022-2023, especially for the meat production value, which experienced a significant increase.

However, Lumpy Skin Disease and Foot and Mouth Disease have been reported in Indonesia and are present in other countries to Australia’s north. Both diseases would be highly disruptive to Australia’s livestock industry. In addition to immediate impacts such as reduced animal productivity, increased mortality and containment measures, disease incursion could impact Australia’s market access to major export partners.

Take a look at the available jobs in Australia

Is Agriculture Profitable in Australia?

One of the most important factors to consider is measuring how profitable the agricultural industry is compared to other sectors. The 2021-2022 period provides good seasonal conditions and higher commodity prices for most agricultural products. Taking into account the vast and diverse businesses that build up the industry, the Australian agricultural industry.

Regarding profitability, agriculture is one of Australia’s most profitable and promising industries. Australia’s agriculture industry has also experienced significant improvement in the farms’ performance and cash income. Despite the setback due to the Covid-19 pandemic, on average, the agricultural sectors experienced a considerable increase;

• Broadacre Farm incomes were up 34 per cent to $278,000
• Dairy Farm incomes up 35 per cent to $337,000
• Cropping Farms up 40 per cent to $572,000.

The total value of Australian agriculture in 2021-2022 is expected to be $81 billion. The agricultural exports are expected to increase by an estimated a third in 2020-2021, valued at more than $64 billion. This trend of increase is expected in all states; ABARES, through their public release, has mentioned that 2021-2022 experienced a favourable and favourable seasonal condition.

With such vigorous markets and a positive increase trajectory, the agricultural industry has once again proven to be a lucrative business with vast potential for a promising career pathway. We remarkably recommend this opportunity to jobseekers close to home and beyond. 

How Much Do Agriculture Workers Earn In Australia?

With positive and prospective growth experienced by the Australian agriculture industry, it has transformed the old and tedious type of occupation into a lucrative and desirable career option. However, their question remains;

How much do agricultural workers earn?

On average, agriculture workers in Australia make a home with an estimate of $57,525 annually; the sum ranges based on their position and responsibilities. Our correspondence states that some jobs in the agriculture business could reach $165,855 up to $220,350 per annum.

Due to the diverse degrees of growth and conditions, the agricultural workers received an average hourly salary ranging from $23.60 to $32.25. On average, several higher positions with more experience and expertise might earn $38.60 per hour.

This further shows how the agricultural industry provides considerable income with positive prospects. Australian agriculture is a promising career path that deserves its due recognition and acknowledgement. Aside from how lucrative the pay it offers, Australian agriculture also promises an intensive career trajectory since the industry revolves around year-round options with many different businesses available for job seekers.

Does Australia Need Agriculture Workers?

As the country is determined to return to its feet post-Covid pandemic, many Australian industries face chronic worker shortages. Agriculture is one of the most severely affected industries due to the worker shortage. The agricultural sector is struggling to secure sufficient numbers of workers on farms and other rural food processing facilities all across the country.

The worker shortage in the agriculture sector has now become a serious threat to Australia’s food viability and security. The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) estimates that around 26,000 additional workers are URGENTLY needed to cover the immediate shortfalls, with over 100,000 more workers required to enable agricultural sector growth. Causing hundreds of local food production businesses to face significant operations challenges.

The immediate need for farm workers to bolster the Australian agriculture sector has become direr than ever before. While this issue is quite concerning, this also provides a priming opportunity for job seekers interested in finding employment in Australia. 

Take a quick look at Hospitality Jobs in Australia.

What is the future of Agriculture in Australia?

As a job seeker, it is vital to understand what the Australian agriculture industry may offer you fully. As one of the largest agricultural HubSpot in the Asian Pacific regions, Australia provides a substantial advantage compared to other countries.

With its economic strengths and growth prospects, Australia offers wholesome opportunities for jobseekers aiming for a better career and life development. The options both professionally and personally to prospective workers, by transitioning to Australia, job seekers will be able to benefit from;

• Diverse Employment Opportunities

Australia offers a vast amount of land for agriculture industries with diverse choices for business in the agricultural sector. With various business opportunities in many different industries, the entire agricultural industry allows its workforce to experience many different roles throughout the year-round industry. Combined with the technological advancements, a career in agriculture proves to be a future opportunity.

Starting with the horticulture industry, which is always available at different times of the year for different types of fruits and vegetables to yield. The livestock industry is also a year-round industry with much versatility; dairy farms and animal rearing both offer significant profits and advantages. These advantages of the agriculture sector provide a lucrative employment opportunity.

The agricultural sector provides its workers with the possibility to enjoy a life that they will love. The relaxing countryside or remote outback areas offer a unique life experience. The agriculture industry also provides various work opportunities across the country, allowing jobseekers to choose the workplace they are best suited to.

•  Advantageous Business Growth

Australia has boasted solid economic growth in recent years, unlike other countries in the region. This translates into a stable environment for its industries with favourable growth rates. In turn, the industries provide a promising opportunity for employment across the country. For example, Australia is a significant exporter of various agricultural products, contributing significantly to the country’s annual GDP.

Agriculture is one of the fastest-growing industries in Australia; it’s also one of the country’s most diverse and versatile industries. It allows its workforce to enjoy its longevity and sustainability, making agriculture one of the most promising industries for job seekers.

As job seekers, it is crucial to secure employment with positive prospects. Combined with the vast workforce needed post-pandemic, it quickly makes agriculture one of the most promising choices for job seekers. Considering the growth, the Australian agriculture industry has experienced over the past few years. Only a few other sectors share similar characteristics and opportunities in terms of growth rate.

• Positive Future Prospects

The agricultural sector requires a massive number of work-ready workers to support the productivity of its businesses. The Australian agriculture industry offers valuable career opportunities, especially with most states/territories now facing worker shortage problems and a mass interstate migration. This caused the worker shortage to worsen, especially in NSW, and Victorian suffered the most significant loss of residents to other states/territories.

Based on the data presented by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the number of people who moved interstate in 2021 is estimated to be nearly 500,000, which is a 20% increase and breaking the previous record set in 2002. This, combined with the already lacking number of available workers, will put Australian businesses in a critical need of workers, meaning the need for skilled workers will not go down anytime soon.

With the massive number of workers relocating interstate, many gaps will be filled across the country. This opportunity will prove advantageous for off-shore job seekers aiming to secure employment in Australia, especially for those with specifications highly needed by the agricultural sectors.

Look at how our selection process works, and explore how you can get ahead of the competition.

How to Do Effective and Efficient Recruitment?

With the country suffering from worker shortages, many Australian businesses struggle to secure skilled and work-ready workers. This is applicable for both on-shore candidates as well as off-shore prospective job seekers. However, this practice increased the difficulties of the recruitment process. Causing a slow and tedious process with often unfavourable outcomes, you might want to reconsider your recruitment strategy.

You can take several actions to help your business do effective and efficient recruitment. You can start with establishing your business requirements, securing the talent pool, choosing your screening strategy, and setting up the testing methods. All these factors will be able to help you to ensure you make the best hiring decisions

More details are as follows;

a. Business Requirements

The first step of an effective recruitment strategy is establishing your business requirements; we are referring to the in-depth profiling of candidates.

Of course, it is more than just their professional and educational background; it also includes the preferred personal and cultural experience of the candidates you deemed best suited to your business.

You will be able to explore many options available to you and more accurately pinpoint the implementation of your strategy.

b. Talent Pool Access

It is not a secret that the success of your recruitment relies significantly on the number of applicants or potential candidates you can reach. Hence, securing substantial access to a vast and diverse pool of talents is imperative. Sounds easy enough. But in practice, this proved to be tricky enough.

This is not an easy feat, especially if you are looking for particular skills or specifications that are hard to find. While you might think using some job-ads platforms such as LinkedIn or SEEK and the likes might help, it often only attracts low-quality candidates. 

Nevertheless, you can try to utilise the talent pools from recruitment agencies. However, we must emphasise the importance of establishing your business requirements.

c. Screening Strategies

With the number of applications, assessing every applicant is sometimes tricky. Hence you might want to plan for the best strategy for your screening process properly; there are many options available, each with its pros and cons. The most common scenario will be applicant tracking software (ATS) and conventional screening strategies.

The conventional screening strategies implemented may vary. However, it commonly consists of;

• • Resume/CV Reviewing
  • Cover Letters Reviewing
  • Video/Audio Recording Assessment
  • Interviews (Offline or Online)
  • References Reviewing
  • Social Media Checking

Our surveys show that 60% of Australian businesses rely on a fully automated ATS screening system. While offering a much faster and easier process, this strategy has a 75% assessment failure rate, especially causing a stunted recruitment process. On the other hand, the ATS screening process offers a much faster completion rate while more limited than its conventional counterpart. This is highly contrasted against the traditional screening strategies, which may take longer but have assurance in quality.

While implementing ATS into your recruitment process will offer a much faster rate, you must never forget that artificial intelligence (AI) requires many improvements. Hence it must be complemented with sufficient supervision and balanced checking.

d. Testing Methods

To find the most suitable new hire for your business, it is essential to have a set of testing strategies and methods. It will be vital to measure the candidate’s performance and capabilities. 

In general, there are many options you can choose from, each with its advantages and disadvantages. However, you might need to consider how efficient and effective the testing strategies you chose are.

Some of the most common testing types are as follows;

• • Personality & Behavioural Assessment

Taking into account the applicant’s personality and behavioural assessment to help potential employers measure the candidates’ compatibility based on their personality traits and their behavioural compatibility with the company’s setting, values and culture.

While the test may sound abstract, it will help your business fully recognise each candidate’s potential and hidden attributes. Allowing a much more comprehensive and inclusive assessment resulting in a better result for the quality of your candidates.

Through these tests, you can identify each candidate’s characteristics and personality traits, allowing a deeper understanding of their personality attributes, analytical ability, interpersonal skills, and leadership skills. These will come in handy in simulating the new hires in a real workplace scenario.

• • Role-based Performance Assessment

This test strategy aids employers in assessing the suitability and compatibility of each candidate to the role their business needs. Neurone advocates that employers test the relevant performance, proficiency, and aptitude with the position they are looking for.

It is essential for employers to assess the capabilities of the candidates fully, not only to ensure their objectives are met but also to gain more insights into the candidates’ potential. This allows employers to identify the candidates’ suitability for the role they are applying for while keeping in mind any possible candidates possessing the qualifications they might need for another position.

There are many instances where employers realise that they are also interested in finding another candidate for another role that could become vacant anytime soon. After all, having a highly qualified talent pool will significantly assist businesses in facing high turnover rates.

e. Background & Reference Check

Another factor to consider when choosing a candidate for your business is the trustworthiness of their character. We encourage employers to pay great detail to each candidate’s background. It ensures that you accept only those with positive personal and professional track records.

Checking their past reference will offer in-depth information about their performance and development over the past years. It ensures that you will not be getting a bad egg or rotten apple as your new hire, and it will help to keep your work environment free from unnecessary drama or toxic culture.

The scope of this method varies; some businesses even go as far as checking up on the candidates’ social media accounts for any inappropriate content. However, the employer should ask for relevant information from the proposed referrals or the previous workplace. After all, you wouldn’t want to let the fox into the chicken coop, don’t you?

Are you looking to start a career in Australia? Check out how to begin your journey.

Fast Track Recruitment Process for Your Agricultural Workers

Neurone offers in-depth and fast recruitment services as one of Australia’s most reputable recruitment agencies. We provide a vast and diverse range of talents, handpicked from the Global talent markets. 

Our Career Development Specialists carefully prepared the screening process to ensure that only the best candidates will be selected and presented for your consideration.

Our Human Resources Consultants have developed a thorough selection process that measures the suitability and eligibility of each candidate. Leaving no gaps to help you make an informed decision.

Neurone implements many strategies to thoroughly assess each candidate, ensuring your recruitment process is as smooth and flawless as possible. To accommodate the fast-paced Hospitality Industry, our recruitment process is as follows;

a. Reviews & Validations (RVT)

Our Career Development Specialist will review each candidate within our talent pool to immediately come up with the MOST SUITABLE candidates based on the profile of the roles your company needs.

Our Human Resources will then validate their specifications, making a shortlist of top candidates that checked your requested criteria. In parallel, our team of Business Development will be on standby for a Global Headhunting process. SHOULD IT BE NEEDED? 

b. Unscripted &  Authentic On-Cam Interviews

Unlike other recruitment agencies, Neurone advocates Human-touch in every process. We do not stick to a script or an essential list of questions. We will adapt our questioning during the interviews to truly gain insight into the mindset, improvisational skills and adaptability. 

Our Team of Interviewers will be ready to throw curveballs at the shortlisted candidates. Reaching deep into their psyche and ensuring we only propose the candidates with high compatibility to your business.

c. On-the-Job Trials

Our clients enjoy a high performance from our proposed candidates and the high degree of loyalty and motivation our talents possess. 

To help settle the candidates’ suitability and compatibility to their roles, Neurone advises prospective candidates to undergo trial programs. This will offer a solid performance measurement of each candidate and reassures their future employers about their forthcoming new superstars!

Look at our talent listing and find the one that suits you best.

Neurone Recruitment Agency for Australian Agricultural Businesses

Neurone is Perth based Recruitment Agency with years of experience and expertise. Our services have assisted hundreds of Australian businesses in securing highly qualified and experienced workers. 

Our recruitment process is fast, efficient and hassle-free; our customers enjoy the best results with NO RISKS to their business. Our talents are handpicked and carefully assessed, consisting of the cream of the crop from the Global talent markets.

Our 9-step Recruitment Process and 5-steps Headhunting Strategy guarantee the best result for your recruitment needs, with a 100% loyalty guarantee program.

We promise to facilitate and accommodate an accelerated recruitment process with professionalism, honesty and transparency. We offer a handcrafted, human experience without any mechanical error or lapse in judgement.