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Job creation continues apace in the Irish agri food industry, with over 11,200 jobs created over the last five years. Between 2015 and 2018, the number of jobs created each year was somewhere between 2,000 and 3,000 across companies surveyed by the Irish Farmers Journal. This year slowed a little, with just under 1,500 jobs created.
That said, it was an uncertain year in agriculture, with Brexit scheduled to happen twice but postponed, and a summer of protests at factory gates over beef prices. Some 72 companies were surveyed by the Irish Farmers Journal this year, from processing to state agencies and ag tech to merchant companies.
The 1,436 new jobs created in 2019 represent 4% of total staffing numbers in the companies surveyed. Some 28% of the jobs created were in the “supporting” industry for agriculture, such as banks, labour suppliers, state agencies, etc.
For example, Finance Ireland hired an additional 30 agri-staff, the Department of Agriculture took on 154 new people and Bord Bia hired 15 members of staff.
Some 365 graduates filled roles across the companies in our survey. The survey also highlights that the industry is very supportive of students in second- and third-level education. Some 402 internships or placements were completed across the companies surveyed this year. It is encouraging to see those placements turn into jobs, as most of the companies that brought in students on work experience, took on a similar level of graduates during the year.
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