Is Agriculture Science a Growing Field?

A person earning a degree in the science of agriculture may want to know if the field of agriculture science a growing field. This is important knowledge to have because many people want to enter a career that has ample opportunities for employment and advancement. Understanding the employment statistics and projections for the future could help a person decide on a college degree and a path for their career.

Employment Statistics and Overall Job Outlook for All Agriculture Science Jobs

As of May 2018, 35,600 people were employed as agricultural scientists in the United States. This includes plant and soil scientists, animal scientists and food scientists. The expected rate of growth between May 2018 and May 2028 for all of these occupations is seven percent, which is faster than the average rate of five percent for all occupations in the United States combined.

Jobs in Agriculture Science By State, Metropolitan Area and Non-metropolitan Area

Another way to look at the job growth in agricultural science is by geographic area. The states with the most jobs in agricultural science are Texas, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Carolina and Minnesota. The cities or metropolitan areas with the most jobs are College Station, Texas; Minneapolis – St. Paul, Minnesota; Ithaca, New York; Lansing, Michigan; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The non-metropolitan areas with the most agricultural science jobs include East South Dakota, North Vermont, Northwest Oklahoma, Southwest Minnesota, Northwest Illinois and Southeast Minnesota.

Job Growth Based on the Specialty of Agriculture Science

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job growth rate for the animal science specialty of agricultural science will be seven percent between May 2018 and May 2028. As of May 2018, 2,700 people were employed as animal scientists, and there will be about 200 new jobs in this occupation by 2028. The job outlook for food scientists is a growth of five percent between 2018 and 2028. As of May 2018, there were 15,700 people employed as food scientists, and experts expect an increase of 800 jobs in food science. In 2018, there were 18,400 people employed as soil and plant scientists. The expected rate of growth is eight percent through 2028, with a total increase of 1,400 jobs.

Related Resource: 20 Best Affordable Bachelor’s in Agriculture Science

Other Factors Affecting the Growth of Agricultural Science Jobs

There are some other factors in the growth of agricultural science jobs. A booming economy could lead private companies to hire more scientists in research and development. A poor economy could decrease the job growth rate as less money is available for researching new farming techniques, genes for plants or soil additives. The number of jobs in governmental agencies for agricultural scientists should be stable between 2018 and 2028, with an average rate of growth during that time.

Agriculture science could be an ideal occupation for a person who is interested in improving the productivity and efficiency of farmland and livestock. A person working as an agricultural scientist has the potential to make changes that help more people gain access to nutritional food and to decrease the amount of fossil fuels and other resources that go into food production, which will increase sustainability for the future. Knowing if agriculture science a growing field helps a person make an informed decision about their college major and career path.

Other Rankings of Interest: