• The Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce found agriculture and natural resources to be among the fields with the lowest unemployment rates – lower than business, engineering, law, and several others.
• The U.S. Department of Agriculture in the “Employment Opportunities for College Graduates in Food, Renewable Energy, and the Environment, 2010-2015” report, projects that 53,500 qualified graduates will be available for about 54,400 jobs annually in the agricultural and food systems, renewable energy and the environment.
• About 55 percent of those graduates (29,300) are expected to earn degrees from colleges of agriculture and life sciences, forestry and natural resources, and veterinary medicine.
• The other 45 percent, an estimated 24,200 graduates, will come from allied disciplines including biological sciences, engineering, health sciences, business, and communication.
• What does this mean?  Those who have agriculture degrees will have many opportunities for a great career!
• Dr. Phil Gardner, Director of the Collegiate Employment Research Institute at Michigan State University, recently wrote, “No sector appears stronger than agriculture/food processing with an increase in hires of approximately 14 percent” in the annual Recruiting Trends report.
• A recent study conducted by the Battelle Institute, an independent research organization, found that agriculture and agbiosciences are generating vital economic growth and job creation.
• This Midwest area, once dubbed the “Rust Belt,” is becoming the breeding ground for new “green” agriculture-related jobs as the agriculture-driven industry is poised to expand into new markets such as health, specialty crops, biofuels and bio-based products.
• The Bureau of Labor Statistics report points out that “…an increasing number of small-scale farmers have developed successful market niches that involve personalized, direct contact with their customers. Many are finding opportunities in horticulture and organic food production, which are among the fastest growing segments of agriculture.“
• Our planet recently reached the 7 billion population mark and the United Nations estimates we will have 2.3 billion more people to feed by the year 2050.
• We must address how to feed all these people with little expansion of land; in a way that conserves our water resources; and in a fashion that society judges acceptable and even more respectful of our environment.
• Those in agriculture will make important contributions to our country’s energy requirements and help provide feedstock’s for other industrial materials.
• To meet these challenges, a growing number of passionate, smart, and well-prepared people have a lot of work to do.
• That’s why we’re very excited by the prospects for our students. Agriculture has been one of the bright spots in the U.S. economy during the current recession and incredible opportunities exist for new economic development in our country.
• NAASO students are beginning to enrich, educate and prepare themselves for a promising, exciting and rewarding career in the field of Agriculture!

Agriculture needs YOU!  Start your path to a great Agricultural Career with Nelson Academy of Agricultural Sciences Online!