Economic pressures and market conditions are standing challenges to the job market for newly graduated agri-students. While some experts believe employment opportunities are more promising since 2022, others believe it will be another bleak year for agricultural graduates.
According to Agrijob recruitment specialist Marianne Van der Laarse, although the agriculture industry is vibrant and still growing, it is always a struggle for new graduates to find an entry-level position or internship.
Entry-level jobs will remain scarce
While the drastic effects of Covid-19 on jobs have somewhat been mitigated, other factors such as economic pressure and market pressure are still hampering the availability of entry-level jobs, Van der Laarse told Food For Mzansi. The situation has improved somewhat since 2022, but the space for new graduates is still under pressure as a result of specific challenging conditions, she believes.
“For example, the poultry industry has been hit very hard with the recent outbreaks of the highly pathogenic avian influenza. This will have an impact on the availability of entry-level jobs, on the production level, and throughout the entire value chain.
“The citrus industry has also experienced a tough season with Eskom’s harsh load shedding schedules, which has a devastating effect on citrus farms’ ability to supply quality fruit, and sufficient quantities as required by the international and local markets,” said Van der Laarse.
Being realistic
Furthermore, Van der Laarse believes that many new graduates may have unrealistic expectations. Specifically, they may anticipate entering entry-level jobs and quickly earning a high salary. Also, real-world work experience and other factors play a crucial role in determining salary levels, she said.
“The key to a higher salary lies in the practical experience graduates are gaining. The more experience you can gain while studying, the better. If you are doing a post-grad qualification such as a master’s degree, ensure that the practical work you are doing is mentioned in your CV.
“When compiling your CV, do not copy and paste information from the internet, or make use of Artificial Intelligence software to write your story. You are a unique individual, so write your own career story. When writing your profile summary, be careful to use jargon, in other words, lots of lingo to impress people. Rather focus on the basic aspects of your capabilities, skills, and positive personality traits,” advised Van der Laarse.
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A bleak 2024
Thony Graham, the deputy chairperson of the South African Agricultural Graduates Association (SAAGA), has expressed concerns about the employment prospects for newly graduated agricultural students in 2024. According to Graham, the situation appears challenging, referring to events in the previous year where the three-year contracts of Agricultural Assistant Practitioners (AAPS) were terminated prematurely.
This eventually resulted in approximately 5000 graduates losing their jobs nationwide. Graham fears that opportunities for the current year’s graduates in the agricultural sector may be limited or scarce.
“It was a good initiative, of course, however, it was lacking in terms of sustainability. The way things are going in the sector, the new pool of agricultural graduates are not standing a good chance to be employed, they will add [to] the multitudes of other unemployed graduates.”
According to Quarterly Labour Force Survey data released last week by Statistics South Africa showed that in the third quarter of 2023, about 956 000 people were employed in primary agriculture, up 10% year-on-year (and 7% quarter-on-quarter). This is well above the long-term agricultural employment of 793 000.
“However, the increase does not involve a greater percentage of graduates,” Graham said. “The increase compromises more of general labourers, only a small percentage of agricultural graduates.”
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What to do right
Graham’s perspective is that graduates who are looking for employment in 2024, should first evaluate their employability. He suggests that many graduates lack the necessary employable skills and emphasises the importance of hands-on practical experience in the agricultural sector.
According to Graham, once graduates have acquired this practical experience, they can then begin applying for other jobs in the agricultural sector.
Apart from the department of agriculture’s graduate placement programme where students are trained to acquire knowledge and experience, Graham encourages graduates to explore other opportunities.
“The other way of gaining practical experience is by volunteering in various farms, by so doing, it will be the first step to do right when they apply for jobs,” he said.
Which fields to apply in
Graham suggests that graduates should consider applying for jobs in specific areas within the agricultural sector to enhance their chances of employment. He recommends exploring opportunities in crop production, horticulture, livestock, forestry, and the agro-processing industry. By focusing on these specific fields, graduates may align their skills and interests with the demands of the job market.
Meanwhile, Van der Laarse pointed out that most jobs in agriculture have a commercial focus, meaning that business development and application thereof have high priority. In other words, individuals working in agriculture are expected to prioritise and actively engage in activities that contribute to the commercial success and growth of agricultural ventures.
“Once you have completed a science-based agricultural qualification, on a pre-or post-graduate level, consider furthering your knowledge in a commercial field, such as marketing, sales, business management, public relations, human resources, financial management, information technology, programming, data analytics, etc.”
Combining scientific and commercial skills
Van der Laarse added that there is a strong demand for individuals who possess a combination of both scientific and commercial skills within the agricultural sector This demand extends across various aspects of agriculture, including both plant and animal-related fields.
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