Inside Ag Hiring: A Review of 2025 Trends & the 2026 Outlook

The agriculture and food industry continues to show a strong demand for talent, evolving candidate expectations, and increasing competition for skilled workers. Data from AgCareers highlights key hiring trends, candidate behavior, and workforce outlook shaping the industry. 

In a time of rapid change, the agriculture and food industry remains resilient—but not without new challenges. Workforce expectations are shifting, competition for talent is intensifying, and employers are rethinking how they attract and retain skilled professionals. 

The Agriculture & Food Job Reports offer an inside look at these changes. Powered by AgCareers data and employer insights, this report explores hiring trends, candidate activity, and workforce dynamics across the industry. U.S. and Canadian editions are available now for free download: 

U.S. AgCareers Job Outlook Report 

Canadian AgCareers Job Outlook Report 

Let’s look at a few key findings related to agriculture and food hiring and talent: 

2025 Snapshot 

• 1.2M+ site visits and 10M+ job views 

• ~3,000 jobs posted monthly by 650+ employers 

• Nearly 10,000 new job seekers joined the platform 

• 61% of candidates held agriculture-related degrees 

Key Talent Trends 

• Job alerts grew 9%, signaling high engagement from candidates 

• 67% of applicants held a bachelor’s degree or higher 

• 40% of candidates had 5+ years of experience 

• Strong interest in internships, agronomy, marketing, research, and communications 

Hiring Demand & Activity 

• Job views increased 7% year-over-year 

• The Midwest led hiring in the U.S., & the Central region led in Canada. 

• Top career types: 

• Operator/General Laborer 

• Sales/Retail 

• Operations/Maintenance 

• Fastest-growing roles: 

• Warehouse/Inventory 

• Operator/General Laborer 

Industry & Workplace Trends 

• Leading hiring sectors: 

• Input Retail & Crop Services 

• Food & Beverage Processing 

• Finance, Banking, Insurance & Real Estate 

• Chemical, Fertilizer & Crop Protection 

• Remote job postings increased, especially in sales and business development 

• Over 20% of employers offer remote work, with more adopting hybrid flexibility 

Candidate Supply 

• 61% of applicants had ag-related degrees 

• 30% come from non-ag backgrounds, bringing transferable skills 

• The top U.S. applicant state was Texas, and the top Canadian province was Ontario 

• 13% of applicants are students, supporting early talent pipelines 

2026 Outlook 

• Competition for talent remains the top challenge for employers 

• 94% of employers increased salaries in the past year, & the majority expect salary increases in 2026 

• Key focus areas: 

• Upskilling and training programs 

• Retention and employee development 

• Flexible work arrangements 

• Competitive compensation programs 

The Bottom Line 

Agriculture and food employers face a competitive hiring landscape but benefit from a strong and engaged talent pool. Success in 2026 will depend on offering flexibility, investing in employee development, and adapting to evolving workforce expectations. 

AgCareers focuses on attracting both active and passive job seekers. Candidates actively pursue careers in agriculture and use AgCareers in their job search processes. AgCareers draws applicant traffic from various majors and occupations inside and outside the agricultural industry, but the site remains a top method for people with agricultural experience and education to find their passion in the industry.