The agricultural industry is critical to the economic success of the nation. It provides incredible opportunities to contribute to the government’s sustainability and climate agenda and is a major source of jobs in rural and regional Australia.
To continue to grow and prosper, the agricultural industry must attract more talented, qualified workers to consider a career in the industry. This involves a whole-of-government approach to invest in the skills of Australians, create as many opportunities in the regions as possible, support secure pathways for overseas workers and ensure workers are protected.
Agricultural workforce data and research is published by ABARES.
Find out how the Australian Government is supporting the agricultural industry to better skill, attract, protect, and retain its workforce in the following factsheet.
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Supporting the agriculture sector and its workforce factsheet (PDF 114 KB)
Supporting the agriculture sector and its workforce factsheet (DOCX 210 KB)
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The Australian Government is committed to supporting the agricultural industry through new foundational workforce measures.
The 2024-25 Budget provided $1.9 million over 3 years for:
- $1 million to pilot a new, skilled agricultural work liaison program
- $0.5 million to support the continuation of the AgCAREERSTART gap year employment program
- $0.4 million to fund National Farm Safety Week activities
For more information about our foundational workforce measures, visit https://www.agriculture.gov.au/about/reporting/budget/factsheets/2024-25
The Agricultural Workforce Forum succeeded the Agricultural Workforce Working Group, and is continuing its work in finding solutions that address workforce issues in the agriculture and processing sectors. The Forum brings employer groups, unions and the Australian Government together to work collaboratively to identify opportunities to support careers in agriculture.
The Forum met for the first time on 20 November 2023 and meets quarterly.
Find out more about the Forum, including a full list of members.
The Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme remains a key program for meeting agricultural workforce shortages and allows eligible Australian businesses to hire unskilled, low-skilled and semi-skilled workers from 9 Pacific Islands and Timor-Leste when there are not enough local workers available. The government is working closely with the Pacific and the sector to strengthen and expand the scheme.
For more information visit the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade PALM website.
The government is continuing the implementation of the Migration Strategy. Information on the Strategy can be found at the Department of Home Affairs website.
Fee-Free TAFE is providing opportunities for Australians to access skills and training across priority industries. Almost 14,600 students have enrolled in an agriculture-related Fee-Free TAFE course as at 31 December 2023. Places are now available for enrolment for students looking to commence a career in the industry or existing workers wanting to upskill.
Find out more about these opportunities at YourCareer.
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Fee-free TAFE for agriculture fact sheet (PDF 415 KB)
Fee-free TAFE for agriculture fact sheet (DOCX 210 KB)
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An inclusive and diverse workforce is important to the growth of Australia’s agricultural sector.
Employers and employees can find out more about what Commonwealth support is available by accessing our Workforce diversity and inclusion in agriculture factsheet.
The factsheet specifically outlines what Commonwealth support is available for:
- People with disability
- Women
- First Nations Australians.
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Inclusion fact sheet (PDF 229 KB)
Inclusion fact sheet (DOCX 216 KB)
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AgConnections – Skilled Agricultural Work Liaison pilot program
The AgConnections – Skilled Agricultural Work Liaison pilot program aims to encourage university students to consider a career path in agriculture.
The pilot program will provide funding for universities to develop and run an agricultural work liaison pilot program over the 2025 and 2026 calendar years.
Australian universities were invited to apply for grant funding for the AgConnections pilot program. Applications were open from 17 September until 15 October 2024. Applications are being assessed and successful applicants are expected to be announced in early 2025.
AgCAREERSTART
The AgCAREERSTART pilot program is a structured employment program to help young Australians start a career in agriculture in their gap year. Read more about AgCAREERSTART or register your interest at agcareerstart.com.au.
Community Perceptions and Worker Experiences Program
The Community Perceptions and Worker Experiences Research program aims to better understand and respond to community perceptions and worker experiences within the agriculture, fisheries, and forestry sector. There are multiple projects delivered under the program:
AgriFutures Australia has released a range of new resources to help teachers and career advisers encourage young people to consider a career in Australia’s agriculture industry under the Career Advisers Project. The resources make up the second part of the Cultivating the Next Generation project, delivered by AgriFutures Australia and Central Queensland University, with funding from the Australian Government. The final research reports and several case studies promoting positive aspects of working in the sector are available on the AgriFutures website.
AgriFutures is currently undertaking two new projects under the Community Perceptions and Worker Experiences program:
The First Nations Engagement project will help to better understand First Nations community engagement preferences with Australia’s rural industries workforce. The project will analyse several case studies that highlight First Nations-owned businesses in Australia that are actively facilitating First Nations engagement in the agricultural workforce.
The Growth Industry project will help to understand and capture positive worker experiences in careers in agriculture from which AgriFutures will develop case studies and promotional material to ensure they effectively communicate agricultural career opportunities with the broader community.
National Careers Institute Career Mapping Project
The National Careers Institute built an interactive career map on the YourCareer website, showcasing the breadth and diversity of occupations in the agriculture, fisheries and forestry sector.
AgUP
The AgUP grants program supports industry-led projects that are creating opportunities for attraction, retention, upskilling, training, mentoring and career progression for the agricultural workforce. Projects run to 2024-25:
- Seafood Industry Australia Limited has partnered with the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation to deliver a digital national seafood industry platform that acts as a one-stop shop for workers in all sectors of the seafood industry. For more information visit the Seafood Careers website at seafoodcareers.com.au
- Rural Business Tasmania Incorporated is partnering with the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture to deliver a training and development program focused on knowledge, leadership, business management and extension skills.
Fair Farms
The Fair Farms initiative is an industry-led training and certification scheme that provides training in and monitoring of fair employment practices to reduce the risk of worker exploitation in the Australian horticultural industry. More information can be found on the Fair Farms website.