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Rural Contractors New Zealand is questioning why more young New Zealanders are not being encouraged to take up careers in the agricultural sector.
"It ranks as New Zealand's most productive, innovative sector and offers a wide variety of career opportunities for young people," says Rural Contractors NZ president Steve Levet.
Despite relatively high unemployment nationally, contractors are finding it difficult to recruit skilled and motivated staff.
"Rural contractors – like many employers in the agricultural sector – are finding it increasingly difficult to attract people to work in the sector, with many having to bring in overseas workers to fill the gap.
"I find it astounding that schools and other educational institutions are not more actively encouraging young people to look at the agricultural sector for career opportunities."
Levet says he is concerned to hear feedback that some educators still view the agricultural sector as a second-class career option and only less academic students are encouraged to take on agriculture subjects at school.
"That really is last century thinking when you consider that people entering the agricultural sector will find progression is a given and, with shortages in the field internationally, they can end up having a global career," he adds.
"Rural Contractors NZ provides a career path for young people entering our industry and there are qualifications up to Diploma level, which are available to those working in our sector. There is also plenty of evidence to suggest those working in the agricultural sector are better remunerated than their peers working in other sectors."
A recent Federated Farmers/Rabobank 2013 Farm Employee Remuneration survey found that remuneration levels for most pastoral farm positions have continued to increase – with the average farm worker now earning $5500 more than the New Zealand average annual wage.
"Agriculture is the backbone of New Zealand's economy and an industry with massive growth potential – so we need our best and brightest to be working in the sector," Levet says.
"Rural Contractors NZ believes schools and educators have an important role in encouraging quality people into agriculture," he says. "We are only too happy to assist schools and other educators to better understand what the agriculture sector has to offer students as an exciting and rewarding career opportunity."
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