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INDUSTRIES
The STEM Careers Handbook 2020
Agriculture
Overview In 2019 the most recent Australian Bureau of Statistics Agriculture Commodities report was released, providing a snapshot of the sector across 2017–18. This confirmed what was already a well known fact: Australia’s agricultural industry is enormous. In the 2017–18 year, there were 85,000 agricultural businesses in Australia and 378 million hectares of agricultural land. There were around 24 million cows and 71 million sheep, as well as $5.7 billion worth of wheat and $6 billion of fruits, nuts and grapes. All told, the gross value of Australia’s agricultural production that year totalled $59 billion. What’s involved? The National Farmers Federation reports that the agricultural industry employs some 307,000 people in a variety of roles. Common careers in this sector include agricultural technician, crop farmer, agronomist and forester. Their responsibilities might include: sowing crops, vaccinating livestock, working to minimise the impact of farming operations on natural habitats, maintaining equipment (for example, the machines used to process milk on dairy farms), breeding animals and much more. Where do agriculture industry employees work? The agricultural sector is spread across Australia, with most workers found in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland. This loosely corresponds to the distribution of Australia’s farms, which cover 61 per cent of the country’s landmass. (Interestingly, the world’s largest station, Anna Creek, is actually in South Australia, where it covers six million acres – an area bigger than Israel.) Of course, the agriculture industry can’t exist in rural isolation – especially given a recent report (Food, Fibre & Forestry Facts) found 60 per cent of the produce it generates is destined for export. As such, it is supported by a well developed supply chain and a variety of secondary industries that turn agricultural goods into a range of products (such as fibres, foodstuffs and ethanol). If you include workers in these secondary industries, the agricultural sector can be www.gradaustralia.com.au
said to employ 1.6 million people in capital cities, rural or regional areas and even overseas. Entering the agriculture sector The first category of jobs in the agriculture sector are those which require a specific STEM qualification. For example, to work as a veterinarian, engineer, agronomist or other graduate professional, you will need a specific degree. The second category of relevant occupations in the agricultural sector are those for which you need a skill set rather than a specific undergraduate qualification (although these are often required as proof of educational attainment). For example, it may be beneficial to have a background in agronomy if you intend to pursue a managerial role in the agricultural industry. However, this is not a requirement and you could still submit a competitive application if you have strong marks in an unrelated discipline as well as relevant experience. Career prospects According to the annual Australian Bureau of Agriculture and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) Outlook, Australia’s agriculture production is currently worth $59 billion and is predicted to rise to approximately $61 billion by 2023–24. This slow but steady rise will be welcome news for aspiring workers in the agriculture industry, after drought and global factors produced an approximate 6 per cent drop in recent times. Agricultural organisations vary in size, but the largest can have many hundreds or even thousands of employees. As a result, there is room for advancement within some of the more technically demanding careers, allowing graduates to set their sights on supervisory and administrative roles. How can I take advantage of my STEM background? One factor affecting careers within the agricultural industry is the imminent threat of climate change, which as reported by the CSIRO, will cause ‘decreased precipitation over much of Australia...exacerbating existing challenges to water availability and quality for agriculture’. Other imminent challenges facing the agricultural industry include increasing populations (and food demand), the growing role of genetically
