College of Agriculture
Employment outlook remains strong for agriculture graduates
USDA-NIFA's Employment Opportunities for College Graduates in Food, Agriculture, Renewable Natural Resources and the Environment report forecasts 104,766 annual job openings for graduates in agriculture and related fields through 2030. (Agricultural Communications) Anew report released by Purdue University’s College of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) projects that employment opportunities will remain strong for new college graduates with degrees in food, agriculture, renewable natural resources and the environment (FARNRE).
The Employment Opportunities for College Graduates in Food, Agriculture, Renewable Natural Resources and the Environment report for 2025-30 forecasts about 104,766 job openings annually across four broad job clusters: business and management; science and engineering; food and biomaterials production; and education, communication and governmental services. The estimate was developed using Bureau of Labor Statistics data and web-scraped data on FARNRE position announcements.
“Agriculture offers outstanding career opportunities for those committed to ensuring a safe, nutritious and affordable food supply,” said Bernie Engel, the Glenn W. Sample Dean of Agriculture at Purdue. “It’s a field where passion meets purpose, and the future looks exceptionally bright. As this report shows, today’s agricultural careers are powered by innovation — from data analytics and automation to sustainable engineering and precision technologies.”
Employer demand for graduates with FARNRE-aligned skills is expected to dramatically exceed the number of available FARNRE majors. Of the 104,766 projected annual openings, graduates earning FARNRE degrees (associate degrees through graduate/professional degrees) will make up 48% (50,057) of the supply, while allied disciplines will contribute 25% (25,802). The remaining 27% (28,907) of hires will come from other fields, including about 10% of the available positions filled by candidates without a degree.
“Across the board, employers are looking for graduates who can integrate data, technology and leadership into decision-making,” said Christine Wilson, senior associate dean and director of academic programs in Purdue’s College of Agriculture and lead author of the report. “These trends reinforce the value of agricultural business, food and science education and degrees in preparing students for meaningful, high-impact careers.”
The breakdown of available jobs in the four major clusters is as follows:
- Business and management (41%) — Includes finance, risk management, supply chain, e-commerce, consulting and data analytics roles across the food and agriculture value chain
- Science and engineering (21%) — Encompasses agronomy, plant and animal sciences, biological and agricultural engineering, food science, automation, and water and soil systems
- Food and biomaterials production (19%) — Covers production management, precision agriculture, biomaterials, bioenergy and environmental management
- Education, communication and governmental services (19%) — Includes agricultural educators, communicators, policy specialists and data analysts serving in local, state and national organizations and government roles
“The future of agriculture depends on building a workforce of professionals from every discipline and background — rural, urban and suburban — who bring technical expertise and global awareness to the complex challenges of feeding a growing world,” said Jay Akridge, co-author and Trustees Chair Professor of Teaching and Learning Excellence and professor of agricultural economics at Purdue.
This tenth report in the series, initiated by the USDA in 1980, includes associate degree holders for the first time. The study also features new job subcluster and geographic breakdowns, allowing a more refined look at available FARNRE positions for new graduates. In addition, a more rigorous method using web-scraped data of position announcements was employed to give a more comprehensive assessment of available positions.
The report was co-authored by Wilson; Akridge; Stephanie Martin, senior data analyst in the College of Agriculture; Joshua Strine, graduate student in agricultural economics at Purdue; and Brady Brewer, associate professor of agricultural economics at Kansas State University.
For more details and access to the full report, visit purdue.edu/usda/employment.
About Purdue Agriculture
Purdue University’s College of Agriculture is one of the world’s leading colleges of agricultural, food, life and natural resource sciences. The college is committed to preparing students to make a difference in whatever careers they pursue; stretching the frontiers of science to discover solutions to some of our most pressing global, regional and local challenges; and, through Purdue Extension and other engagement programs, educating the people of Indiana, the nation and the world to improve their lives and livelihoods. To learn more about Purdue Agriculture, visit this site.
About Purdue University
Purdue University is a public research university leading with excellence at scale. Ranked among top 10 public universities in the United States, Purdue discovers, disseminates and deploys knowledge with a quality and at a scale second to none. More than 106,000 students study at Purdue across multiple campuses, locations and modalities, including more than 57,000 at our main campus locations in West Lafayette and Indianapolis. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue’s main campus has frozen tuition 14 years in a row. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap — including its integrated, comprehensive Indianapolis urban expansion; the Mitch Daniels School of Business; Purdue Computes; and the One Health initiative — at https://www.purdue.edu/president/strategic-initiatives.
Writer: Nyssa Lilovich, nclilovi@purdue.edu, 765-494-7077
Media contact: Devyn Ashlea Raver, draver@purdue.edu
Sources: Christine Wilson, wilson1@purdue.edu; Jay Akridge, akridge@purdue.edu
Agricultural Communications: Maureen Manier, mmanier@purdue.edu, 765-494-8415
Journalist Assets: USDA Employment Outlook Report
