Job prospects Agriculturist in Ontario

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Explore current and future job prospects for people working as an "agriculturist" in Ontario or across Canada.

Job opportunities in Ontario

These outlooks were updated on November 29, 2023.

Prospects over the next 3 years

The employment outlook will be moderate for Agricultural representatives, consultants and specialists (NOC 21112) in Ontario for the 2023-2025 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to a few new positions.
• A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements.
• There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.

What Types of Employers Are Out There?

• Farms
• Agricultural supplies merchant wholesalers
• Management, scientific and technical consulting services

What are the Main Trends Affecting Employment?

• Population growth and advancements in farming to support larger and more complex operations may improve job prospects in this occupation
• Greater focus on crop and livestock health and safety including pesticide usage, animal care and disease prevention, and crop cultivation
• Need for sustainable farming and environmental management related to food wastage, land use, and soil science
• Demand for organic produce, non-traditional crops, and growing international markets
• Need for succession planning services given aging farm operators and managers and services to address labour needs 
• Agricultural industry can be sensitive to external shocks and global trade and prices

What Skills Do I Need to Succeed?

• Specialization in a particular area of farming or farm management may be required
• Registration with the Ontario Institute of Agrologists may be required

What Other Information Will I Find Helpful?

• This occupation can be seasonal with more job opportunities during the summer months, though individuals that work with livestock often have year-round employment
• Most farms in Ontario specialize in oilseed and grain farming, cattle ranching and farming, or other crop production
• Southwestern Ontario has a significant number of farms especially in the Stratford–Bruce Peninsula and Windsor–Sarnia economic regions.

Here are some key facts about Agricultural representatives, consultants and specialists in Ontario:

• Approximately 1,250 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
• Agricultural representatives, consultants and specialists mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Wholesale trade (NAICS 41): 25%
  • Agriculture (NAICS 111, 112, 1151, 1152): 22%
  • Other professional, scientific and technical services (NAICS 5414, 5416-5419): 16%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 85% compared to 81% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 15% compared to 19% for all occupations
• 78% of agricultural representatives, consultants and specialists work all year, while 22% work only part of the year, compared to 63% and 37% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 46 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
• 28% of agricultural representatives, consultants and specialists are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 67% compared to 52% for all occupations
  • Women: 33% compared to 48% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: less than 5% compared to 9% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: 18% compared to 25% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: less than 5% compared to 8% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 26% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 27% compared to 24% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 21% compared to 13% for all occupations

Breakdown by region

Explore job prospects in Ontario by economic region.

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology

Labour market conditions over the next 10 years

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as an "agriculturist" Agricultural representatives, consultants and specialists (NOC 21112) or across Canada.

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