Australia: Agricultural science graduates in high demand

With six jobs for every agricultural science graduate in Australia, this year’s graduating class from the University of Tasmania’s Bachelor of Agricultural Science are spoilt for choice and taking their pick of exciting jobs around Australia.

Lilia Jenkins, of Launceston, graduated on Friday (16 December) with a Bachelor of Agricultural Science with Honours. Like many of her peers, she has already accepted a job in her chosen field of entomology.

“I was offered positions both in private and public sectors, and I know a lot of my fellow graduates are jumping right into the industry into manager positions. I accepted a job with Cesar Australia as a graduate extension scientist where I’ll be working in integrated pest management, which was the subject of my honors project,” Lilia said.

Lilia’s honors project looked at the role of beneficial insects in controlling pest populations and included trials in Tasmanian apple orchards. In October, she presented her research findings to a live and online audience which gained the attention of her future employer and led to a job interview.

“There is a huge demand for skilled agriculture graduates across a range of areas, and employers are looking to bring-in graduates that have both practical skills and scientific knowledge,” Lilia said.

Dr. Lizzy Lowe, Extension Team Lead at Cesar Australia, said it was harder to find applicants with good on-the-ground agricultural management experience.

“We think that time spent out on farms is one of the most important things for graduates, some real-life experience of what it is like to run a farm and to have to make a whole lot of different management decisions. As we are a research and extension company, it is also especially important for applicants to have really good communication skills and the ability to translate complex scientific ideas,” Dr. Lowe said.

“A lot of young people are eager to do work that has meaningful impacts on the world, and I’d encourage them to consider agriculture as a study path,” Lilia said.

“Agriculture is such a broad subject, and there’s no doubt that other students would find something that would spark their interest, like how I found a passion in entomology. It also develops your interpersonal skills and big-picture thinking, so it’s a great career option for people who want to challenge themselves and who want to connect with the world at a larger scale.”

Professor Michael Rose, Director of the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA), said a degree in agricultural science develops sought-after skills that could see graduates working in diverse roles, including on farms, at board tables, in classrooms, in laboratories, or advising governments.

“TIA is training the future generation of agricultural leaders and innovators. We work closely with industry and government to develop a skilled agricultural workforce to meet current and future demands, and our students get to work alongside industry and make important connections throughout their degree,” Professor Rose said.

“Young people have a real reason to be excited about the enormous potential and rewards of a career in agriculture. Our students have an opportunity to address some of the world’s biggest challenges and opportunities using science, technology, and business skills.”

“I wish this year’s graduates all the best as they embark on their careers in the agriculture sector and look forward to seeing where their journeys lead them.”