This week saw the Irish Farmers Journal publish its annual agri-jobs Focus supplement, with the survey finding over 2,300 new jobs across the agricultural industry. One such company that took part in our study was the FRS Network with the firm confirming that it saw a big uptake of on-farm seasonal workers in 2017. Two-hundred workers were taken on with the majority of these new positions to meet the increased demand from farming customers, according to FRS. In addition, FRS Network created 21 new positions in the areas of office administration, customer service, business development, trainee recruitment consultants, project managers and software developers in 2017.

With the survey finding jobs aplenty in the agri-food sector this year and over 1,500 jobs expected already in 2018, companies such as FRS are keeping busy.

FRS Recruitment is one arm the FRS Network and we spoke with agri-recruitment consultant John Miller, who has being working with FRS Recruitment for 11 years, specialising in the agricultural sector since 2011. His role with the company involves working in harmony with a range of different agriculture business.

“I would deal a lot with the animal feed merchants, and with the majority of co-ops and merchant groups. I deal with machinery manufacturers and distributors, and agriculture wholesalers,” says Miller.

FRS Recruitment posts its openings on websites such as Irish Jobs, Recruit Ireland and LinkedIn, allowing individuals to then apply for the roles online. Fairs also play a role in its operations.

“We would historically visit UCD careers fair and we recently visited GMIT in Galway,” says Miller.

“We also attended the Irish Farmers Journal’s Agri-Careers Fair held back in March.”

Like most businesses, FRS Recruitment endures particular periods throughout the year that are more hectic than others, and the summer months prove to be the driest spell.

“The busiest time in recruitment is definitely January to April. June, July and August is seasonal because people are on holidays, and they wouldn’t start hiring when they are on holidays. So trying to organise interviews in May, June and July is pretty tough,” Miller explains.

“We’ll be busy in January, February, March and April, and then the CVs slow down for the summer months. Then September to December is very busy,” he says.

What are the trends?

Millers’s position with FRS Recruitment has ensured that if there are any trends within the agriculture industry, he is aware of them.

“Graduate training programmes are on the rise – the reason why is that some graduates are not sure what they want to do. It is only when you get into the work force, and you work in different departments, that you really get to know what you like. It offers a more clearly defined career path and they get to know what they want before they really commit,” explains Miller.

“Another trend is that there are a lot of graduates working overseas. I would say for 2016, there was about 15% of total graduates working overseas. Graduates are wanting to travel straight away after completing third-level education.”

FRS Recruitment has stretched into the agri-sector abroad, and has been building its international links year on year.

“We recruit for overseas opportunities on dairy farms in Saudi Arabia. We have been placing assistant dairy farm managers in Almarai; there are great salaries and they are tax-free. They generally start on €46,000 tax-free – and that includes free flights home during the year. We also deal with some dairy farms in Dubai.”

While many may be fleeing the nest to experience work in booming agriculture countries abroad, the agri positions in Ireland are there for the taking with some being in bigger demand than others.

“You’ll have a certain amount who get involved in technical support and I have noticed that there are a lot of people going into quality control. You find a lot of food science graduates go into quality control,” says Miller.

“Some go into full-time teaching positions; you will have people going to teach directly with the likes of Teagasc. Teaching jobs are probably on the rise with Teagasc.”

Brexit continues to loom over the agriculture industry like a dark cloud, and everyone is bracing themselves for the hit if they are not feeling it already. The agri-recruitment sector is no different.

“We currently deal with a lot of machinery manufacturers and distributors and the machinery trade is somewhat affected by Brexit. It means that companies are probably not hiring the volume that they might need. Consumers here in Ireland – farmers are a little bit reluctant to purchase new machinery at the minute so that obviously has a knock-on effect. So maybe machinery manufacturers are holding steady at the minute.” CL

For new on upcoming positions, visit www.frsrecruitment.com and for on-farm milking and general farm work, visit www.frsfarmrelief.ie/careers