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What do agriculture graduates do?

January 2025

Scotland is the most common destination for agriculture graduates and 90% believe their work is meaningful, while just 4.7% moved into further study

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 commonly reported occupations were all related to their degree, such as:

  • Farm workers
  • Managers and proprietors in agriculture and horticulture
  • Chartered surveyors
  • Farmers
  • Biological scientists
  • Engineering professionals n.e.c.
  • Animal care services occupations n.e.c.
  • Environment professionals

A small percentage of agriculture graduates were unemployed (2.2%), a figure that is below the average for all graduates (5.6%).

,Percentage of early agriculture studies graduates
Employment and further study,7.1
Full-time employment,72.8
Full-time further study,4.7
Other including travel caring for someone or retired,4.7
Part-time employment,7.6
Part-time further study,0.2
Unemployment,2.2
Unknown pattern of employment,0.3
Voluntary or unpaid work,0.5

(Graduate Outcomes, 2024)

Further study

Just 4.7% of agriculture graduates chose to pursue full-time further study, with a further 7.1% reporting that they were working while studying. Half (52.9%) reported that they were doing a professional qualification, 16.9% were doing a Masters course, and 13.6% said that they were doing an undergraduate course when surveyed.

,Percentage of agriculture graduates in further study
Foundation degree,0.6
Doctorate,4.7
Masters (Such as MA or MSc),16.9
Other Professional qualification,52.9
Postgraduate diploma or certificate (including PGCE/PGDE),11.3
Undergraduate degree (Such as BA or BSc),13.6

(Graduate Outcomes, 2024)

Occupations of agriculture graduates

Agriculture graduates enter a variety of sectors, drawing on the diverse range of skills they develop during their studies. 13.6% reported that they were working in management roles, with a further 13.0% 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, 61.6% of those in management roles were working in as managers and proprietors in and agriculture and horticulture (58.3%), or forestry, fishing and related services (3.3%).

A small proportion also reported working health (1.1%), IT roles (0.8%), as well as roles in arts, design and media (0.7%).

Occupations of 2021/22 agriculture graduates
Management13.6%
Other occupations13.0%
Engineering and Building professionals10.9%
Marketing, PR, sales8.1%
Skilled trades, Crafts and Other Vocational Occupations7.4%
Business, HR and finance6.4%
Science professionals5.2%
Clerical, secretarial, administrative4.0%
Other professionals3.6%
Retail, waiting and other customer service3.1%
Education2.1%
Legal, social, welfare1.8%
Childcare, health, education occupations1.6%
Health1.1%
IT0.8%
Arts, design, media0.7%

Two thirds of agriculture graduates (66%) found themselves in professional-level employment - compared to 75% 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 (89.6%) of agriculture graduates who answered the graduate voice questions indicated that their current work is meaningful. Similarly, three quarters (75.0%) said that they are utilising the skills that they learnt on their course in their work, and 84.2% said that their current work fits in with their plans for the future.

To elaborate, 63.0% of agriculture graduates who were in non-professional positions when surveyed were working in jobs related to their degree.

Respondents reported working in the following non-professional roles:

  • Farm workers (41.7%)
  • Farmers (14.1%)
  • Gardeners and landscape gardeners (1.0%)
  • Animal care services occupations n.e.c. (0.8%)
  • Fishing and other elementary agriculture occupations n.e.c. (2.6%)
  • Agricultural and fishing trades n.e.c. (2.1%)
  • Forestry and related workers (0.6%)

Location of employment of agriculture graduates

Agriculture graduates were working in various locations across the UK, with Scotland accounting for the largest proportion at 15.6%. West Midlands was the second most common location, with areas like Birmingham, Warwickshire and Staffordshire being particularly popular. Individuals also found work in Hertfordshire, Essex and Cambridgeshire, making the East of England an appealing location.

Employment locations of 2021/22 agriculture graduates
East Midlands9.1%
East of England10.0%
Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man0.3%
London3.6%
North East1.9%
North West8.7%
Northern Ireland6.1%
Scotland15.6%
South East7.3%
South West8.5%
Wales5.7%
West Midlands11.8%
Yorkshire and The Humber7.7%

Salaries

Agriculture graduates who didn't pursue further study after graduation earn an average of £28,620, which is just below the overall average for all graduates (£28,731).

However, the average earnings for agriculture graduates who did some form of significant study since graduating (£27,648) which is also below the average for all graduates (£28,428).

To explore the destinations of graduates from other subjects, read What do graduates do?

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