Scotland is the most common destination agriculture graduates and 88% believe their work is meaningful, while just 3.1% moved into further study
According to the latest Graduate Outcomes data, most agriculture graduates were in employment 15 months after graduation. Full time work (71%) was the most common destination, while 9.9% found work in part-time roles.
The most reported occupations were all related to their degree, such as:
- Farm workers
- Animal care services occupations
- Chartered surveyors
- Biological scientists
- Managers and proprietors in agriculture and horticulture
- Gardeners and landscape gardeners.
A small percentage of agriculture graduates were unemployed (2.2%), a figure that is below the average for all graduates (5%).
,Percentage of early agriculture studies graduates Employment and further study,8.2 Full-time employment,71 Full-time further study,3.1 Other including travel caring for someone or retired,3.8 Part-time employment,9.9 Part-time further study,0.1 Unemployment,2.2 Unknown pattern of employment,0.8 Voluntary or unpaid work,0.8
(Graduate Outcomes, 2023)
Further study
Just 3.1% of agriculture graduates chose to pursue full-time further study, with a further 8.2% reporting that they were working while studying. A third (34.1%) reported that they were doing a professional qualification, a quarter were doing a Masters course, and 23.1% said that they were doing an undergraduate course when surveyed.
,Percentage of agriculture graduates in further study Foundation degree,6.6 Doctorate,4.4 Masters (Such as MA or MSc),25.3 Higher National Qualification (e.g. Higher Certificate),2.2 Other Professional qualification,34.1 Postgraduate diploma or certificate (including PGCE/PGDE),4.4 Undergraduate degree (Such as BA or BSc),23.1
(Graduate Outcomes, 2023)
Occupations of agriculture graduates
Agriculture graduates enter a variety of sectors, drawing on the diverse range of skills they develop during their studies. One in ten (10.7%) reported that they were working in engineering and building roles, with a further 10.6% working in other professional roles - many of which are directly related to their degree.
Similarly, many of those who reported that they were working in skilled trades or management roles were also working in occupations related to their degree. For instance, 68% of those in management roles were working as managers and proprietors in agriculture and horticulture (52%), or forestry, fishing and related services (16%).
A small proportion also reported working in legal, social, and welfare jobs (0.8%), IT roles (0.4%), as well as roles in arts, design and media (0.1%).
| Engineering and Building professionals | 10.7% |
|---|---|
| Other professionals | 10.6% |
| Management | 9% |
| Skilled trades, Crafts and Other Vocational Occupations | 9% |
| Marketing, PR, sales | 7.1% |
| Childcare, health, education occupations | 6.6% |
| Science professionals | 6.6% |
| Retail, waiting and other customer service | 5.0% |
| Business, HR and finance | 4.9% |
| Clerical, secretarial, administrative | 3.4% |
| Education | 2.9% |
| Legal, social, welfare | 0.8% |
| IT | 0.4% |
| Arts, design, media | 0.1% |
Half of agriculture graduates (49%) found themselves in professional-level employment, a figure below the overall graduate average of 75.5%, However, it's crucial to acknowledge that many graduates in non-professional roles may still be fulfilling their aspirations and feel like they are making meaningful contributions.
For instance, the majority (88%) of agriculture graduates who answered the graduate voice questions indicated that their current work is meaningful. Similarly, three quarters (72.8%) said that they are utilising the skills they learned on their course in their work, and 68% said that their current work fits in with their plans for the future.
To elaborate further, 68.8% of agriculture graduates who were in non-professional positions when surveyed indicated that their current work fits in with their future career plans. As an example, respondents reported working in the following non-professional roles:
- Farmers (2.4%)
- Horticultural trades (0.6%)
- Gardeners and landscape gardeners (3.2%)
- Groundsmen and greenkeepers (0.2%)
- Agricultural and fishing trades (1.4%)
- Farm workers (6.6%)
- Forestry and related workers (0.4%)
- Fishing and other elementary agriculture occupations (0.6%)
- Groundworkers (0.4%)
Location of employment of agriculture graduates
Agriculture graduates were working in various locations across the UK, with Scotland accounting for the largest proportion at 18%. West Midlands was the second most common location, with areas like Shropshire, Staffordshire and Warwickshire being particularly popular. Individuals also found work in Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire, making the South West an appealing location.
| East Midlands | 7.6% |
|---|---|
| East of England | 12.0% |
| Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man | 0.3% |
| London | 3.9% |
| North East | 0.9% |
| North West | 6.2% |
| Northern Ireland | 5.0% |
| Scotland | 18.0% |
| South East | 7.4% |
| South West | 14.0% |
| Wales | 5.2% |
| West Midlands | 15.5% |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | 3.9% |
Salaries
Agriculture graduates who didn't pursue further study after graduation earn an average of £26,847, which is just below the overall average for all graduates (£27,383). However, the average earnings for agriculture graduates who did some form of significant study since graduating (£28,627) was higher than that of other graduates who reported the same (£26,842).
To explore the destinations of graduates from other subjects, read What do graduates do?
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