The West Midlands is the most common destination for agriculture graduates and 90% believe their work is meaningful, while just 2.7% moved into full-time further study
This article is part of a series exploring the outcomes of graduates from subjects that are not included in What do graduates do?
According to the latest graduate outcomes data, most agriculture graduates were in employment 15 months after graduation. Full time work (72.8%) was the most common destination, while 7.6% found work in part-time roles.
Eight of the ten most reported occupations were all related to their degree, such as:
- Farm workers
- Biological scientists
- Chartered surveyors
- Managers and proprietors in agriculture and horticulture
- Farmers
- Animal care services occupations n.e.c.
- Engineering professionals n.e.c.
- Fishing and other elementary agriculture occupations n.e.c.
A small percentage of agriculture graduates were unemployed (2.5%), a figure that is below the average for all graduates (6.2%).
,Percentage of early agriculture studies graduates Employment and further study,8.0 Full-time employment,74.5 Full-time further study,2.7 Other including travel caring for someone or retired,4.8 Part-time employment,6.3 Part-time further study,0.5 Unemployment,2.5 Voluntary or unpaid work,0.7
(Graduate Outcomes, 2025)
Further study
Just 2.7% of agriculture graduates chose to pursue full-time further study, with a further 8.0% reporting that they were working while studying. Half (51.2%) reported that they were doing a professional qualification, 12.4% were doing a Masters course, and 6.8% said that they were doing an undergraduate course when surveyed.
,Percentage of agriculture graduates in further study Foundation degree,2 Doctorate,4 HNC or other undergraduate certificate (e.g. Higher Certificate),12.4 Masters (Such as MA or MSc),1.8 Other Professional qualification,51.2 Postgraduate diploma or certificate (including PGCE/PGDE),11.8 Undergraduate degree (Such as BA or BSc),4.9
(Graduate Outcomes, 2025)
Occupations of agriculture graduates
Agriculture graduates enter a variety of sectors, drawing on the diverse range of skills they develop during their studies. 13.0% reported that they were working in management roles, with a further 14.2% working in other occupations – 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, 60.3% of those in management roles were working in as managers and proprietors in and agriculture and horticulture (56.4%), or forestry, fishing and related services (3.9%).
A small proportion also reported working health (0.5%), IT roles (0.3%), as well as roles in arts, design and media (0.8%).
| Engineering | 15.1% |
|---|---|
| Other Occupations | 14.2% |
| Managers | 13.0% |
| Science | 12.5% |
| Marketing, PR and sales | 10.9% |
| Skilled trades, crafts and vocational work | 6.9% |
| Business, HR and finance | 6.6% |
| Clerical, secretarial and administrative | 5.0% |
| Retail, catering and customer service | 4.0% |
| Childcare, health and education | 3.4% |
| Other professionals | 3.1% |
| Education | 2.0% |
| Legal, social and welfare | 1.8% |
| Arts, design and media | 0.8% |
| Health | 0.5% |
| IT | 0.3% |
Two thirds of agriculture graduates (66%) found themselves in professional-level employment – compared to 72% of graduates overall. 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 (90.3%) of agriculture graduates who answered the graduate voice questions indicated that their current work is meaningful. Similarly, three quarters (79.7%) said that they are utilising the skills that they learnt on their course in their work, and 84.0% said that their current work fits in with their plans for the future. To elaborate, 80.2% of agriculture graduates who were in non-professional positions when surveyed indicated that their current work fits in with their future career plans. For instance, respondents reported working in the following non-professional roles:
- Farm workers (30.7%)
- Animal care services occupations n.e.c. (9.3%)
- Farmers (9.2%)
- Fishing and other elementary agriculture occupations n.e.c. (6.7%)
- Agricultural and fishing trades n.e.c. (3.1%)
- Gardeners and landscape gardeners (0.8)
- Groundsmen and greenkeepers (0.8%)
- Horticultural trades (0.8%)
Location of employment of agriculture graduates
Agriculture graduates were working in various locations across the UK, with the West Midlands accounting for the largest proportion at 15.1%. South West England was the second most common location, with areas like Gloucestershire, Somerset and Devon being particularly popular. Individuals also found work in Aberdeenshire, Edinburgh and Dumfries and Galloway, making the Scotland an appealing location.
| West Midlands | 15.1% |
|---|---|
| South West | 11.8% |
| East of England | 11.7% |
| Scotland | 11.7% |
| North West | 9.1% |
| South East | 8.6% |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | 8.1% |
| East Midlands | 6.8% |
| Wales | 6.0% |
| Northern Ireland | 5.1% |
| London | 3.2% |
| North East | 1.6% |
Salaries
Agriculture graduates who didn't pursue further study were earning an average of £29,060 when surveyed 15 months after graduation, which is just below the overall graduate average of £30,030.
Moreover, while the typical salary in the sector is around £35,000, experienced graduates in roles such as farm managers or agricultural consultants can earn upwards of that, rising to £70,000 for some.1
To explore the destinations of graduates from other subjects, read What do graduates do?
Notes
- Graduate opportunities in agriculture, Prospects.ac.uk, 2025.
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