JOB MATCHING PLATFORM TO HELP QUEENSLAND AG SECTOR THROUGH WORKFORCE CRISIS

The Queensland agricultural sector will now have the support of a sophisticated job matching tool to attract valuable skilled labour along with the opportunity to showcase the incredible career opportunities the sector has to offer.

Officially launched on 23 February, Ag Jobs Queensland is a dedicated industry jobs platform connecting employers from the agricultural sector across the state with prospective employees. Through the platform, businesses are able to advertise their available positions, promote their jobs through social media and create an Employer Profile to showcase their business as an employer of choice.

Job seekers looking to work in what is arguably the most exciting industry in Queensland can similarly use the platform to upload their CV and connect with interested employers across the agricultural supply chain.

Queensland Farmers’ Federation (QFF) have developed Ag Jobs Queensland responding to feedback from its peak body members who are hearing from farmers all over the state that attracting a skilled workforce remains one of the critical challenges facing their enterprises.

“The outlook for the Queensland agriculture sector is positive with global demand for our top-quality food, fibre and foliage continuing to grow. While this is good news for our economy and regional communities, the sector needs to be able to attract, retain and grow an appropriate workforce in order to realise this growth,” QFF CEO Jo Sheppard said.

“The entire agricultural sector and supply chain are feeling the impact of the workforce shortage and it is placing downward pressure on productivity, efficiencies and profitability and upward pressure on the cost of production.”

In 2020-21, the total value of Queensland’s primary industries – agriculture, fisheries, forestry and food – was estimated at more than $23 billion.

In the five years leading up to the same time period, the total number of people employed in the sector grew 26.2 per cent compared with 9.1 per cent for the state’s overall employment. Not only is the need for workforce in the agriculture sector growing, the traditional workforce composition for agriculture and farming businesses is also evolving with a range of new skills in demand.

“It is an exciting time to work in the Queensland agricultural sector,” Ms Sheppard said.

“Businesses are innovating to meet opportunities and challenges and are seeking talent to fill a diversity of roles within their operations, so no matter where your interests lie, there will no doubt be a career pathway for you in Queensland agriculture.”

Ms Sheppard said she is expecting to see increased future demand for skills in a number of areas including technology and data, automation, research and development, environmental sustainability, and biosecurity, markets and trade, climate change, people management, marketing, communications, and finance and risk management.

“So, if you are an employer seeking to fill a role or a prospective employee wanting to work in Queensland agriculture, register on the platform now,” Ms Sheppard said. Ag Jobs Queensland can be viewed at www. agjobsqueensland.com.au.