Employment Opportunities for College Graduates in the Food and Agricultural Sciences, 2000-2005

Study Results
Executive Summary

The Big Picture

Results of a 1999 national study indicate good employment opportunities for college graduates with agricultural, forestry and natural resources, and veterinary medicine expertise over the first five years of the 21st century.

Market strength will vary among major employment categories, but slightly more total annual employment opportunities are expected than can be filled by the projected number of new qualified graduates. Some 57,785 average annual openings are projected for U.S. food and agricultural sciences graduates during 2000-2005. An average 57,175 qualified graduates are expected to be available each year.

Employment opportunities will continue to increase for those who provide and market an expanding array of food, forest, and veterinary medical consumer products and services to a growing world population. Food scientists and engineers, food and forest products sales representatives, financial managers, information systems specialists, agricultural science and business teachers, landscape horticulturists, veterinary medicine specialists, plant geneticists, and outdoor recreation specialists should see a strong employment market through 2005.

Relatively weaker employment markets are expected for college graduates who provide goods and services to farmers, ranchers, and forest managers. There will fewer openings in agricultural and forest production. Also, weaker employment markets are anticipated in government agricultural agencies, veterinary medicine general practices, and in some traditional agricultural science specializations.

Jobs in science, engineering, and related specialties are expected to account for thirty two percent of the total employment opportunities for U.S. college graduates with food, agricultural, natural resources, or veterinary medical expertise. Twenty eight percent of the job openings will likely be for marketing, merchandising, and sales representatives. Thirteen percent of the annual openings will be for managers and financial specialists. Communication and education specialists represent eleven percent of the total expected market; social services professionals, nine percent; and agricultural production specialists, seven percent.

Major Factors Affecting the Market

Four important factors are expected to have major impact upon the employment opportunities for food and agricultural sciences college graduates during the next five years.

The changing business structure of the U.S. food production and delivery system is expected to have the greatest impact. Business consolidations and alliances will continue to redefine the kinds and numbers of needed new graduates. Fewer farmers and ranchers, and fewer agribusiness organizations will decrease opportunities for middle managers, marketing representatives, and others who provide goods and services to agricultural producers. In contrast, more complex business structures will increase opportunities for technical and business consultants, and information technology specialists.

Continued globalization of the food, agricultural, and natural resources system will increase opportunities for graduates who understand the socio-economic factors that define international markets. Graduates who know how to satisfy the diverse consumer needs and preferences in difference cultures, and who have the language skills to communicate effectively, will have the best opportunities to be employed by the growing number of multi-national businesses. Graduates who have studied abroad, or participated in professional work experiences in other countries, will have a distinct advantage in the job market.

Evolving consumer tastes and preferences will continue to have major impact on employment opportunities for food and agricultural sciences graduates. Fewer businesses will be providing goods and services to agricultural producers, but more will likely be involved in producing products and marketing goods and services to consumers. Strong employment opportunities are projected for such professionals as food scientists, forest product scientists, landscape and turf managers, outdoor recreation specialists, environmental engineers, and specialty doctors of veterinary medicine.

Food, agricultural, and natural resources public policy decisions will continue to have strong impact on the employment market. Public policy choices about food safety, environmental regulations, scientific research, rural development, and land use will influence the kinds of graduates who will be in greatest demand by the private sector. Likewise, public policy decisions will have major influences on the numbers and kinds of food, agricultural, and natural resources professionals needed to staff public agencies.

Scientists, Engineers, and Related Specialists

Average annual openings for scientists, engineers, and related specialists in the U.S. food, agricultural, and natural resources system are projected at 18,538 during 2000-2005. This compares to an expected 18,878 qualified graduates each year.

More scientists, engineers, technicians, and related specialists are being employed each year in the U.S. food, agricultural, and natural resources system. However, slightly more than enough qualified graduates are expected during the next five years. This is because numbers of newly qualified graduates are expected to grow more rapidly than expansion of employment openings.

The strongest employment opportunities are anticipated for food scientists, food process engineers, plant and animal geneticists, water quality specialists, turf scientists, horticultural scientists, plant and animal inspectors, and food and agricultural waste management specialists.

Plenty of qualified graduates are projected in molecular biology, animal nutrition, entomology, agricultural economics, wildlife science, veterinary medicine general practices, and weed science.

Individuals employed as scientists, engineers, and related specialists must have strong preparation in the basic sciences and their applications to food, agricultural, and natural resources problems. Doctoral degrees are required for individuals who will be managing engineering and scientific research. Supporting engineering, technologist, and technician positions usually require a baccalaureate or higher degree.

Managers and Financial Specialists

Average annual openings for food, agricultural, and natural resources managers and financial specialists are projected to be 7,311 during the next five years. In contrast, some 5,644 qualified graduates are anticipated each year. Especially strong niches of management opportunities are foreseen in computer information systems, food distribution and related services, veterinary medical products marketing, and with businesses and agencies that provide outdoor recreation.

Strong employment markets are expected for personnel managers, golf course managers, and operators of landscape horticultural enterprises. Also, accountants and financial managers in food, agricultural, and forestry business organizations should continue to fare well during 2000-2005.

A somewhat weaker employment market is expected for middle managers in agribusiness firms and in credit operations. Continued consolidation of businesses in the food and agricultural economy is expected to exert further downward pressure on the market for managers and other administrative personnel. With fewer farmers, ranchers, and agribusiness organizations in the future, more consolidation of government agency services is anticipated. These changes will likely reduce management opportunities in agricultural and forestry agencies.

Individuals with strong business, communication, and human relations skills will fare best in obtaining management positions. Nearly one-third of the anticipated jobs for managers and financial specialists will likely be filled by individuals having graduate degrees, especially in marketing and financial specialties.

Marketing, Merchandising, and Sales Representatives

Some 15,946 average annual openings are projected for marketing, merchandising, and sales representatives. In contrast, an average of 14,650 qualified college graduates are expected each year during 2000-2005.

Marketing, merchandising, and sales positions will continue to be a primary employment market for new food and agricultural sciences college graduates. Fewer graduates will be hired to market goods and services to farmers and ranchers. Rather, more will be involved in selling food, forest, and horticultural products to domestic and international consumers. Also, more will utilize emerging electronic technologies to complete marketing and technical service functions for their businesses.

Food company account representatives, landscape horticulture specialists, commodity brokers, forest products merchandisers, international market representatives, and advertising and public relations specialists are expected to have the strongest employment opportunities. At the same time, plenty of qualified graduates are expected to be available to sell feed, seed, fertilizer, agri-chemicals, farm machinery, and related products.

Successful individuals in marketing, merchandising, and sales positions require exceptional communication skills and excellent command of electronic information technologies which are used regularly in business transactions. An increasing percentage of food, agricultural, and natural resources sales and marketing positions will likely be filled by graduates from allied fields rather than from those offered by agricultural sciences and forestry colleges. For example, business school graduates will compete strongly for these positions.

Communication and Education Specialists

Average annual openings for communication and education specialists are projected to be 6,397 during the next five years. In contrast, some 6,223 qualified graduates are expected to be available each year.

Very strong employment opportunities are projected for computer information specialists, advertising representatives, public relations specialists, secondary school agricultural science and business teachers, and international communication specialists. Communication and education specialists who are highly skilled in providing products and services via the world wide web are expected to be in the strongest position to compete for jobs.

Stable, or perhaps declining, employment opportunities are forecast for writers, editors, and newscasters. Little change is expected in the aggregate market for college and university faculty members, post-secondary technical school teachers, and extension services personnel. Each of these professional groups will likely continue to attract more highly educated and specialized applicants during the next five years.

Some 40 percent of the projected jobs for communication and education specialists will be associated with computer information services. Colleges of agriculture, natural resources, and veterinary medicine are expected to produce 60 percent of the qualified graduates. Others, especially communication specialists, will come from allied academic fields such as computer technology, journalism, and communication.

Graduates with a portfolio of strong communication skills and technical knowledge in a food, agricultural, forestry, or veterinary medicine discipline should enjoy competitive advantages in the market for communication and education specialists.

Social Services Professionals

Some 5,358 average annual openings are projected for social services professionals. In contrast, an average of 6,570 qualified college graduates are anticipated each year during 2000-2005.

Dietitians and nutritionists, outdoor recreation specialists, land use planners, and food inspectors lead the list of social services professionals expected to enjoy a strong job market during the next five years. A somewhat weaker employment market is expected for rural sociologists, labor relations specialists, and government agricultural agency representatives.

Dietitians and nutritionists account for 41 percent of the projected average annual openings for social services professionals. Twenty-seven percent of the openings in this occupational cluster are for recreation workers with forestry and natural resources expertise. Food and nutrition counselors are another important group of social services professionals.

Colleges of agriculture and natural resources are expected to produce about three-fourths of the qualified social services professionals with the remainder coming from allied academic disciplines such as biology, human nutrition, sociology, and psychology. About 85 percent of the qualified graduates will have baccalaureate degrees. Some 14 percent are expected to have master’s degrees, and one percent will have earned doctoral degrees.

Best qualified graduates will have strong interpersonal communication skills and work experiences that support their technical academic specialties such as nutrition, food science, sociology, or forestry and natural resources.

Agricultural Production Specialists

Some 4,235 average annual openings are projected for agricultural production specialists with a baccalaureate or higher degree. This compares to an estimated 5,210 qualified graduates each year during 2000-2005. Two thirds of the qualified graduates will be produced by colleges of agriculture and natural resources. The remainder will come from allied fields such as life and physical sciences, and business.

Although farmers, ranchers, and farm managers will account for about 85 percent of new openings in the agricultural production specialists employment cluster, more than enough qualified graduates are expected to be available in general farming and ranching operations.

During the next five years, an increasing proportion of new agricultural production managers will be hired or contracted in contrast to being owner operators. Forest managers, horticultural crop producers, landscape nursery operators, and swine and poultry production managers are expected to have good opportunities during the next five years. A relatively stable market is anticipated for new college graduates in dairy and beef cattle operations.

Strong business, communication, and problem solving skills are required for graduates in agricultural and forest production positions. Work experiences on farms and ranches are essential for successful entry into farming and ranching positions. All graduates going into agricultural and forest production operations require a comprehensive understanding of the scientific and business principles used in making production management decisions.