What Agricultural Careers Are in High Demand?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, there are several agricultural-based jobs growing at a higher-than-average rate. We chose a couple to share, which may have high potential in Kentucky.
Logistics Coordinator
Logistics coordinators, or logisticians, analyze and coordinate an organization’s supply chain—the system that moves a product from supplier to consumer. They manage the entire life cycle of a product, which includes how a product is acquired, allocated, and delivered.
Duties
Manage a product’s life cycle from design to disposal
Direct the allocation of materials, supplies, and products
Develop business relationships with suppliers and clients
Understand clients’ needs and how to meet them
Review logistical functions and identify areas for improvement
Propose strategies to minimize the cost or time required to transport goods
Logisticians oversee activities that include purchasing, transportation, inventory, and warehousing. They may direct the movement of a range of goods, people, or supplies.
Logisticians use software systems to plan and track the movement of products. They operate software programs designed specifically to manage logistical functions, such as procurement, inventory management, and other supply chain planning and management systems.
2021 Median Pay: $77,030 per year
Typical Entry-Level Education: Bachelor's degree
Number of Jobs, 2021: 195,000
Job Outlook, 2021-2031: 28% (Much faster than average)
Agricultural and Food Scientists and Technicians
Agricultural and food scientists research ways to improve the efficiency and safety of agricultural establishments and products. Agricultural and food science technicians assist agricultural and food scientists by performing duties such as measuring and analyzing the quality of food and agricultural products. Duties range from performing agricultural labor with added recordkeeping duties to laboratory testing with significant amounts of office work, depending on the particular field the technician works in.
Duties
Conduct research and experiments to improve the productivity and sustainability of field crops and farm animals
Create new food products and develop new and better ways to process, package, and deliver them
Study the composition of soil as it relates to plant growth and research ways to improve it
Communicate research findings to the scientific community, food producers, and the public
Travel between facilities to oversee the implementation of new projects
Agricultural and food scientists play an important role in maintaining and expanding the nation’s food supply. Many work in basic or applied research and development. Basic research seeks to understand the biological and chemical processes by which crops and livestock grow. Applied research seeks to discover ways to improve the quality, quantity, and safety of agricultural products.
Many agricultural and food scientists work with little supervision, forming their own hypotheses and developing their research methods. In addition, they often lead teams of technicians or students who help in their research. Agricultural and food scientists who are employed in private industry may need to travel between different worksites.
2021 Median Pay: $74,160 per year
Typical Entry-Level Education: Bachelor's degree
Number of Jobs, 2021: 37,300
Job Outlook, 2021-2031: 8% (Faster than average)
Agricultural and food science technicians assist agricultural and food scientists by performing duties such as measuring and analyzing the quality of food and agricultural products. Duties range from performing agricultural labor with added recordkeeping duties to laboratory testing with significant amounts of office work, depending on the particular field the technician works in.
Agricultural and food science technicians often specialize by subject area, which includes animal health, farm machinery, fertilizers, agricultural chemicals, or processing technology. Duties can vary considerably by specialization.
2021 Median Pay: $44,700 per year
Typical Entry-Level Education: Associate's degree
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Number of Jobs, 2021: 31,600
Job Outlook, 2021-2031: 9% (Faster than average)
Other jobs with a high job growth rate in the next 10 years:
Animal Caretakers: 27%
Veterinarian: 19%
Farm Equipment Mechanic: 11%
Microbiologist: 9%