Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing

Overview

Snapshot

Employed
300,900
Past Growth
-8.2%
Future Growth
5.1%
Weekly Earnings
$1,100
Workforce Share
2.2%
Full-Time Share
71.4%
Female Share
31.8%
Average Age
51

Summary

Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing is a small employing industry. Around 2.2% of workers have their main job in this industry.

Businesses in this industry are mainly involved in activities like:

  • growing crops
  • raising animals
  • growing and harvesting timber
  • harvesting fish and other animals from farms or their natural habitats.

A large share of the workforce is employed in regional Australia.

On-the-job training is common, and many workers do not have post-school qualifications. Although, the number with a university degree has been growing.

Many people with their main job in this industry work full-time hours.

Average earnings are $1,100 per week, lower the all industries average of $1,250.

Employment

Employment in the Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing industry fell over the 20 years to February 2023.

The number of workers:

  • grew by 2,700 (or 0.9%) over the last quarter
  • fell by 2,600 (or 0.9%) over the last year.

Quarterly employment, Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing

Source: ABS, Labour Force Survey, Detailed, February 2023, seasonally adjusted.


Outlook

Employment in Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing is projected to grow by 16,200 (or 5.1%) over the five years to November 2026.

Employment levels, past and projected, Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing

Source: ABS, Labour Force Survey, Detailed, November 2021, seasonally adjusted and Jobs and Skills Australia, 2021 Employment projections for the five years to 2026.


Sectors

Sheep, Beef Cattle and Grain Farming is the largest sector in the Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing industry, employing 46.6% of workers.

Employment by sector, Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing

Source: ABS, Labour Force Survey, Detailed, F, seasonally adjusted.


Occupations

Largest employing occupations

Livestock Farmers is the largest employing occupation in the Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing industry.

The 10 largest employing occupations are shown below. The table shows: 

  • the number employed in all industries
  • the number employed in this industry
  • the proportion employed in this industry. 

Some occupations are common across a number of industries.

Largest employing occupations, Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing industry

ANZSCO Code Occupation title

Employment
(all industries)

Employment
(this industry)
Proportion employed in this industry
1213 Livestock Farmers 99,200 95,300 96%
1212 Crop Farmers 36,900 35,100 95%
1214 Mixed Crop and Livestock Farmers 27,700 26,900 97%
8412 Crop Farm Workers 26,600 23,600 89%
8415 Livestock Farm Workers 28,900 22,500 78%
7211 Agricultural, Forestry & Horticultural Operators 14,700 10,000 68%
5512 Bookkeepers 97,900 5,900 6%
8321 Packers 67,100 5,400 8%
8414 Garden and Nursery Labourers 32,300 4,500 14%
8992 Deck and Fishing Hands 5,800 3,200 55%

Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, four quarter average, 2021.

Related occupations

The Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing industry employs workers in a range of occupations.

The table below shows related occupations by ANZSCO Skill Level (Skill Level 1 is the highest skill level). This includes occupations that:

  • contribute a large share of industry employment (account for at least 3% of industry employment)
  • have a large share of workers in this industry (at least 5% of workers in an occupation).

These thresholds were used as a guide only and a number refinements were made to the list of occupations included.

The table shows the total number of people employed in each occupation as well as the number and proportion employed in this industry at the time of the 2016 ABS Census.

  • In most cases, 6-digit ANZSCO occupations are shown. This is the most detailed level of ANZSCO.
  • 4-digit occupations are shown where the ANZSCO classification system only has one valid 6-digit occupation.
  • The 4-digit employment figures will differ from the figures shown in the Largest employment occupations table above because the figures have come from different data sources.

Expand or collapse each Skill Level button to view related occupations.

Occupations related to Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing industry, by skill level

ANZSCO code Occupation title Employment
(all industries)
Employed
(this industry)
Proportion employed in this industry
121312 Beef Cattle Farmer 27,989 27,288 97%
1214 Mixed Crop and Livestock Farmer 22,944 22,602 99%
121214 Grain, Oilseed or Pasture Grower 10,978 10,724 98%
121313 Dairy Cattle Farmer 11,042 10,713 97%
121322 Sheep Farmer 9,644 9,489 98%
121213 Fruit or Nut Grower 7,567 7,225 95%
121317 Mixed Livestock Farmer 6,173 6,030 98%
121221 Vegetable Grower 6,117 5,859 96%
121217 Sugar Cane Grower 3,021 2,933 97%
121215 Grape Grower 4,015 2,814 70%
121321 Poultry Farmer 2,564 2,078 81%
121216 Mixed Crop Farmer 2,078 1,961 94%
1211 Aquaculture Farmer 1,627 1,514 93%
121299 Crop Farmers nec 1,872 1,413 75%
121311 Apiarist 1,149 1,027 89%
121316 Horse Breeder 1,152 978 85%
121212 Flower Grower 981 875 89%
234112 Agricultural Scientist 2,653 788 30%
234111 Agricultural Consultant 1,610 702 44%
121318 Pig Farmer 758 701 92%
234113 Forester 964 661 69%
121399 Livestock Farmers nec 728 604 83%
121211 Cotton Grower 366 363 99%
121218 Turf Grower 348 332 95%
133511 Production Manager (Forestry) 430 285 66%
234311 Conservation Officer 4,103 248 6%
121315 Goat Farmer 153 142 93%
234314 Park Ranger 2,470 128 5%
231114 Helicopter Pilot 1,088 106 10%
234213 Wine Maker 1,688 71 4%
121314 Deer Farmer 27 27 100%
233912 Agricultural Engineer 81 23 28%

Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report.

ANZSCO code Occupation title Employment
(all industries)
Employed
(this industry)
Proportion employed in this industry
3111 Agricultural Technician 1,791 667 37%
231211 Master Fisher 586 473 81%
222111 Commodities Trader 2,105 277 13%
311413 Life Science Technician 2,300 165 7%
231213 Ship's Master 3,299 148 4%
311399 Primary Products Inspectors nec 436 95 22%
311313 Quarantine Officer 718 31 4%

Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report.

ANZSCO code Occupation title Employment
(all industries)
Employed
(this industry)
Proportion employed in this industry
3612 Shearer 2,706 2,650 98%
3624 Nurseryperson 2,629 1,578 60%
362212 Arborist 5,186 894 17%
322113 Farrier 955 861 90%
323299 Metal Fitters and Machinists nec 2,593 651 25%
361112 Horse Trainer 2,793 392 14%
399917 Wool Classer 478 390 82%
611112 Stock and Station Agent 1,918 249 13%
399911 Diver 854 215 25%
452313 Horse Riding Coach or Instructor 740 41 6%
639212 Wool Buyer 196 26 13%

Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report.

ANZSCO code Occupation title Employment
(all industries)
Employed
(this industry)
Proportion employed in this industry
721111 Agricultural and Horticultural Mobile Plant Operator 7,841 5,893 75%
899212 Fishing Hand 2,966 2,654 89%
721112 Logging Plant Operator 1,213 870 72%
841311 Forestry Worker 1,055 730 69%
839312 Product Grader 1,591 684 43%
8213 Fencer 8,391 652 8%
361199 Animal Attendants and Trainers nec 3,945 576 15%
841313 Tree Faller 547 323 59%
711314 Other Wood Processing Machine Operator 1,844 176 10%
841312 Logging Assistant 217 154 71%
711716 Yarn Carding and Spinning Machine Operator 218 130 60%
721213 Bulldozer Operator 1,437 115 8%
361115 Kennel Hand 1,195 96 8%
599514 Noxious Weeds and Pest Inspector 1,021 84 8%

Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report.

ANZSCO code Occupation title Employment
(all industries)
Employed
(this industry)
Proportion employed in this industry
841511 Beef Cattle Farm Worker 7,892 7,263 92%
841211 Fruit or Nut Farm Worker 4,550 4,187 92%
841512 Dairy Cattle Farm Worker 3,761 3,628 96%
841412 Horticultural Nursery Assistant 4,996 3,289 66%
8416 Mixed Crop and Livestock Farm Worker 3,234 3,179 98%
841212 Fruit or Nut Picker 3,374 3,050 90%
832113 Fruit and Vegetable Packer 5,956 2,591 44%
841299 Crop Farm Workers nec 2,741 2,473 90%
841214 Vegetable Farm Worker 2,368 2,267 96%
841216 Vineyard Worker 3,751 2,208 59%
841515 Sheep Farm Worker 2,065 1,954 95%
841514 Poultry Farm Worker 3,029 1,931 64%
841999 Farm, Forestry and Garden Workers nec 3,847 1,718 45%
841213 Grain, Oilseed or Pasture Farm Worker 1,575 1,493 95%
841513 Mixed Livestock Farm Worker 1,393 1,319 95%
841217 Mushroom Picker 1,302 1,236 95%
841516 Stablehand 4,235 1,224 29%
841599 Livestock Farm Workers nec 1,288 1,159 90%
841517 Wool Handler 1,033 961 93%
841411 Garden Labourer 18,123 814 4%
841215 Vegetable Picker 903 750 83%
831312 Poultry Process Worker 5,928 736 12%
8411 Aquaculture Worker 542 501 92%
831114 Dairy Products Maker 3,888 478 12%
832114 Meat Packer 8,951 400 4%
831313 Seafood Process Worker 1,621 390 24%
831115 Fruit and Vegetable Factory Worker 2,245 326 15%
831116 Grain Mill Worker 1,076 151 14%
841911 Hunter-Trapper 213 133 62%
832112 Container Filler 2,333 110 5%
832115 Seafood Packer 425 72 17%
831118 Winery Cellar Hand 1,719 65 4%
831117 Sugar Mill Worker 855 59 7%

Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report.


Data Downloads

Industry profile data

This file contains data for all 19 industries to make comparing industry data easy. Information available includes:

  • Industry snapshot data
  • Industry employment (20-year time series)
  • Industry employment projections
  • Industry sector employment
  • Top employing occupations by industry
Excel document
Industry Profile Data February 2023

(95 Kb)

Occupations related to each Industry, by Skill Level

This spreadsheet lists occupations that are related to each industry by ANZSCO Skill Level.

Excel document
Related Occupations By Skill Level

(251 Kb)


Useful links

Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) 

The ANZSIC provides a basis for the standardised collection, analysis and dissemination of economic data on an industry basis for Australia and New Zealand. The ANZSIC is a hierarchical industry classification with four levels, namely Divisions (the broadest level), Subdivisions, Groups and Classes (the finest level).

There are 19 Division level industries, most industry data on LMI are displayed at this level. Division level industries provide a broad overall picture of the economy and this level is most suitable for the publication of summary tables in official statistics. 

The Subdivision, Group and Class levels provide increasingly detailed dissections of these categories for the compilation of more specific and detailed statistics. The sector data on LMI is at the Group level. 

For more information on the ANZSIC visit the ABS website


Industry links

INDUSTRY QUICK LINKS
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