By Andi Anderson
Employment opportunities in the agriculture and environmental sectors are projected to remain strong through 2030, according to a new report from Purdue University’s College of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
The Employment Opportunities for College Graduates in Food, Agriculture, Renewable Natural Resources and the Environment (FARNRE) 2025–2030 report forecasts nearly 105,000 job openings each year across four key clusters — business and management, science and engineering, food and biomaterials production, and education, communication, and government services.
Bernie Engel, the Glenn W. Sample Dean of Agriculture at Purdue, emphasized that agriculture offers rewarding careers driven by innovation. “It’s a field where passion meets purpose,” Engel said. “Today’s agricultural careers are powered by data analytics, automation, and sustainability.”
While demand is expected to soar, the number of qualified graduates may fall short. Of the 104,766 projected annual openings, only 48% will be filled by graduates with FARNRE-related degrees. Allied disciplines will provide 25% of workers, while 27% of positions may be filled by graduates from other fields or those without a degree.
Christine Wilson, senior associate dean and lead author of the report, noted that employers increasingly seek candidates skilled in technology, leadership, and data-driven decision-making — qualities essential for modern agriculture.
The study shows 41% of future jobs will be in business and management, 21% in science and engineering, and 19% each in production and education or government services. Jay Akridge, co-author and Purdue professor, said the sector’s success depends on building a diverse, skilled workforce capable of addressing global food challenges.
This tenth edition of the USDA’s ongoing series marks the first inclusion of associate degree data and introduces refined job subclusters and geographic insights using advanced web-scraped data for greater accuracy.
Photo Credit: usda
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