One of the key focuses in 2014 for Rural Contractors New Zealand (RCNZ) will be to continue to highlight the exciting job opportunities available for young people in the agricultural sector.
And with the new school year looming, a new batch of school leavers will be considering their future options. So how do we ensure that agricultural careers are part of their considerations?
While agriculture ranks as New Zealand’s most productive, innovative sector and offers a wide variety of exciting career opportunities for young people, many rural contractors are still finding it difficult to recruit skilled and motivated staff – let alone attract young school leavers into the industry to start a career.
We need to change this situation and that’s why rural contractors, with others in the industry, are continuing to work on new initiatives designed to help foster an interest in a career in the sector.
RCNZ provides a career path for young people entering our industry with remuneration figures above the average in many cases and qualifications up to diploma level.
I saw a recent news item on television that suggested the agriculture industry is heading for a crisis if young New Zealanders continue to ignore careers in the industry.
Like many in the agricultural sector, rural contractors often have to bring in overseas workers to fill the gap. While rural contractors are keen to employ local people to give them a chance and training, there will always be a need to bring experienced staff in from overseas.
However it’s also really important schools and others in the education sector show the agriculture sector offers viable and exciting career opportunities. One example, shown on the TV news item I saw, was Ashburton College. Its new Primary Industries course teaches students about topics including soil, crops and animal growth.
This demonstrates to students some opportunities available in agriculture and hopefully gets them thinking about potential careers in the sector.
Despite some negative stereotypes about young people and work, there is a demand from those looking for career opportunities in the sector.
This was clearly demonstrated to us last year, when Southland RCNZ members held an induction, information and field day, near Invercargill.
This attracted a huge amount of interest and organisers were blown away when instead of an expected 30 people turning up – more than 100 attended.
Due to the success of this event, we are looking at the possibility of establishing a three-day or four-day training course next winter to enable more local people to develop the necessary skills to work in the contracting industry and meet contractors’ staffing needs.
Another positive from this was the opportunity to work alongside Work and Income NZ to help them understand more how rural contractors work and what we expect from employees. We are also working with Work and Income to seek funding to develop off-season training for potential employees.
We need our best and brightest to be working in New Zealand’s most important sector. Rural contractors – along with everyone involved in the rural sector – have an important role in encouraging young people into our industry.
• Wellsford-based agricultural contractor Steve Levet is the president of the Rural Contractors New Zealand (RCNZ).
