USDA, Purdue Release 2015-2020 Ag Employment Outlook

For the next five years, the United States will see an average of nearly 58,000 annual job openings food, agriculture, renewable natural resources, and environment fields according to a study released today by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture and Purdue University.

“The USDA’s 2015-2020 Ag Employment Outlook report details just how strong the job market will be for graduates in the food, agriculture, and natural resources specialties. Given the global efforts to feed the world’s growing population and create healthy food systems this report shows the importance of attracting the best students in the agricultural disciplines,” said Peter McPherson, APLU president. “Public and land-grant universities have been anticipating this growing need and are well-positioned to educate and prepare the next generation of leaders in these fields for expected jobs in everything from e-commerce managers, to watershed scientists, to crop management consultants, to urban foresters.”

The report projects almost half of the opportunities will be in management and business. Another 27 percent will be in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM areas). Jobs in food and biomaterials production will make up 15 percent, and 12 percent of the openings will be in education, communication, and governmental services.

For more information from USDA NIFA, click here.

To view the report, click here.