Nearly 50% of agri-professionals would move to another industry due to perceived greater career development and salary opportunities recent research has revealed. The results of the inaugral Agri Careers barometer were announced by the Agricultural Science Association, which surveyed 240 of its members ahead of the association’s annual conference last week.

Just 30% of respondents said that they would not consider moving to another industry. However, more than 90% of those surveyed said that they would encourage graduates to pursue a career in the Irish agri-food industry. The research also revealed that only 38% of those in paid employment were offered formal mentoring within their organisation.

“The importance of continuous training and upskilling is widely acknowledged in order to ensure that agri professionals are proficient when it comes to the latest scientific and technological developments,” ASA past president Neil Keane said. “However, the low levels of mentoring offered within the sector is concerning. It is imperative that the industry nurtures and supports the strong pipeline of talent coming from our universities to avoid losing our best talent to another sector.”

Brexit

The impact of Brexit continues to reduce the confidence in the agri-food industry, with 82% of agri professionals surveyed expressing concern about the effect of it on their business in the future. The key areas of concern were general market volatility, currency exchange rate and loss of trade. However, 28% also believe that Brexit offers some opportunities as the decision would decrease Ireland’s reliance on the UK, forcing the industry to innovate and find new ways to become more competitive.