Study Agriculture Now for a Guaranteed Post-College Career
College kids and soon-to-be college kids are rightly concerned with the job market. It’s no secret that the economy hasn’t exactly been amazing in recent years. That’s why when we heard there was a job sector that was performing well and that was almost guaranteeing post-college jobs, we knew we had to write about it. So, what is this magical industry that’s doing so well? Agriculture.
The agriculture industry is rife with jobs. In fact, there are so many jobs in the field of agriculture, there aren’t enough graduates to fill those jobs. “There are an estimated 57,900 jobs available annually in the field of agriculture, and only 35,400 graduates who have studied a field that would qualify them for those jobs,” reports Modern Farmer. The news comes from the latest report compiled by Purdue University and the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Since 1980, the reports have published the “state of employment in the agricultural field.”
So, where are all these jobs within agriculture? Everywhere, really, but some of the more prestigious, solid jobs require an education in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) subjects.
In a recent statement, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack said students “receiving degrees in agricultural fields can expect to have ample career opportunities,” adding that, “Not only will those who study agriculture be likely to get well-paying jobs upon graduation, they will also have the satisfaction of working in a field that addresses some of the world’s most pressing challenges.”
And all of the jobs are quite different. Here’s the breakdown of what’s needed:
– Half of the jobs in agriculture are related to management or business.
– 27 percent of the jobs are in the STEM fields.
– 15 percent of the jobs are in biomaterials production or food.
– And 12 percent of the jobs are in communication, governmental, and education services.
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