Job opportunities in the fields of food, agriculture, natural resources and the environment continue to grow every day.
A new national employment outlook study conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) projected a five-year outlook in those fields, from 2025 to 2030. The report forecasts more than 104,000 annual job openings, a demand expected to exceed the supply of qualified graduates.
For students graduating from the University of Missouri’s College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, this study shows their degree will help them find a job after graduation.
Bryan Garton, senior associate dean and director of academic programs in CAFNR, emphasized the significance of the projections.
“The latest USDA report projects over 104,000 job openings annually,” said Garton. “At CAFNR, we prepare students to step confidently into these high-demand careers.”
New in this year’s study is that it now considers job openings for students with associate’s degrees. The results from the previous study, which projected job prospects for 2020 to 2025, only considered job opportunities for those with bachelor’s degrees. Bringing new qualifications for the study gives accurate numbers to those who would want a job after college, no matter which type of degree they have, Garton said.
In fact, only 48% of the positions are projected to be able to be filled with graduates earning degrees in the fields of agriculture, food, natural resources and the environment – the remaining positions likely will employ candidates with an allied degree (25%) or hires from other fields or those without a degree of any type (27%).
For prospective and current students in CAFNR, there are more jobs out there than people to hire. Garton mentions that the success rate for finding a full-time job six months after graduation in CAFNR is at 95% currently. He would love to bring that number up to Mizzou’s goal, which is 98% across the campus.
One of the most notable findings in the USDA report is the growing importance of technology and analytics across agricultural and environmental careers.
Nearly half of job postings reference data literacy, showcasing how digital agriculture and automation continue to transform the industry. Garton notes that CAFNR is preparing students for this shift.
“Employers increasingly seek graduates with data fluency,” said Garton. “CAFNR integrates analytics and technology into coursework so our students graduate ready to lead in a digital agriculture economy.”
Most degrees in CAFNR have an Excel class as a requirement to graduate. Also within the college, the message of R.I.S.E.: research, international, service and experiential learning, is instilled in the students from the first day they’re on campus. The message emphasizes going in-depth with your major and gaining the most experience you can from it, whether it’s inside or outside of the classroom.
This story was written by a student in AGSC_COM 2150, which gives students the opportunity to explore public relations and journalistic writing with real-world experience in CAFNR.