This document discusses workforce development challenges and opportunities in Tasmanian agriculture. It notes that while over 50% of Tasmanians used to work in agriculture, forestry, fishing and manufacturing, that number is now just 13%. Farming requires increasingly specialized skills and knowledge compared to the past. There is a need to attract young people and change perceptions of agriculture as traditionally less academic. Workforce planning is important to manage future skills needs by making decisions now. Challenges include an aging population, competing with other industries like mining, and changing traditional views of agriculture. Opportunities include investing in training to develop a broader range of agricultural careers and sharing resources between industries.

1. Workforce Development-
The Challenges and
Opportunities in Tasmanian
Agriculture
Shellfish Futures Conference
August 2012 TASMANIAN FARMERS & GRAZIERS
ASSOCIATION

2. Mid 20th Century over 50% employed in Ag,
Forestry & Fishing, Mining and Manufacturing -
Today it is just 13%
(“Australian Jobs 2012”; Department Education, Employment and Workplace
Relations)
• Farming not what it was even 10 years ago.
v Once: jacks-of-all-trades, master of............
v Today: increasingly specialised – specific knowledge
and skills

3. v Once: farm & knowledge handed down from father
to son - the traditional ways enough –Why change!
v Today: Current knowledge and skill needed to
survive changing face of farming
v Once: least academically inclined son stayed on
farm – the bright ones got a career
v Today: bright young things get the farm – sons
and daughters

4. Where We Are At
Now?
Tasmanian workforce today
• 43% aged 45+
• 35% employed part-time
• 56% employed regionally (ie outside
Hobart )

5. Time we got active in the
workforce planning space
Industry Skills Plan:
Agriculture
October 2011-June 2014

6. Skills shortage or labour shortage?
Ø What skills are needed – are they really in
short supply?
Ø On-farm v broader agriculture needs
Ø Competing with mining industry
Ø Selling the life – can’t compete in $$$
Ø Need to change the traditional view of
agriculture

8. • Technology developments
changing the face of farming
Need to be more tech savvy
Computer literacy needed
A vast array of tools available but need
skills to use.

9. Increasing regulation and
compliance regimes
RED TAPE GREEN TAPE
A greater level of business skills needed in
order to negotiate the myriad of red and
green tape and compliance regimes faced
with today

10. .
If this is where we are at then
where to from here?
Workforce Planning – What
does it mean?

11. • Workforce Planning has a similar role as a road
sign
• If you don’t react to the sign you may come to
grief
• To manage for the future need to make better
decisions now and progressively as we move
towards the future.
• Not about tomorrow’s decision it is about today’s
decisions for tomorrows scenario. Predicting future

12. Challenges?
• Aging population making
more competitive to attract
labour
- Baby boomers are leaving
NOW
- Gen Y – not enough

13. • Mobile Workforce
In Australia each year –
ü approx 1 million will change jobs
ü hundreds of thousands also change industry
ü demographers predict this number will
increase
• Competing with other industries – mining
ü How do we attract people to a sector that cannot
compete with $$ paid in other sectors?
ü Lifestyle?
ü Target tree changers?

14. Traditional view of ag

15. Need to change the image – make it sexy
• Not just about driving a tractor
• Own worst enemies – change has to start from
ground up
• Need to convince farmers to spend $$ on up-
skilling
• Broad range of careers available and needed
§ Agronomists
§ Computer programmers
§ Accountants
§ Lawyers
§ Marketers
§ Stock agents
§ And the list goes on and on and on...............

16. Opportunities…..
• This states economy relies heavily on
agriculture
• 2nd largest employer outside of the public
service
• NBN – training to the door
• Government have seen the figures too
Ø Currently Federal Government is willing to
invest in skills
Ø Ascertain your needs and look around – you
will probably find a funding stream to suit
- NWDF 2/3 subsidised
- digital learning
- PPP

17. • United we stand ...........
• Small state with limited funding and employment
pool (representing just 2% of the nations
employment)
• Identify synergies between in training needs
• Share resources – adapt models to suit needs of
each individual industry