Most In-Demand Agricultural Skilled Trades

Undoubtedly, every industry, including agriculture & food, needs skilled trade careers such as electricians, mechanics, and welders across the country. Digging into growing and high-demand careers in our sector, AgCareers.com is sharing the skilled trade opportunities to consider into 2025 and beyond.

Exploring jobs posted on AgCareers.com, we can evaluate roles based on their career type and identify the roles with the highest demand. Two roles with the highest number and most significant increase in demand are skilled trades—truck drivers and custom applicators.

TRUCK DRIVERS

The number of truck driver/transportation roles posted on AgCareers.com in the past year more than doubled. Typically, these roles require a commercial driver's license and are essential in ensuring the safe delivery of products, such as livestock, equipment, feed, and food, to their desired locations. The future job market is excellent; typical employers are food production, grain merchandising, chemical, co-ops and seed production companies.

CUSTOM APPLICATORS

The number of custom applicator/pest control jobs posted on AgCareers.com has nearly doubled in the past year. Custom applicators typically require an applicator's license. A custom applicator ensures that spray equipment works appropriately and applies pesticides or fertilizer in fields. With a positive job outlook, typical employers are seed companies, crop protection companies, cooperatives, large farms, or they may be self-employed.

Looking at the Bureau of Labor Statistics fastest-growing occupations over the next eight years, several industry-specific skilled trades are on the list. Wind turbine service technicians are topping the list overall across all professions and industries, expecting a growth rate of 45% from 2022 to 2032. Another renewable energy source, solar installers, expects 22% growth. Veterinary technologists & technicians increase by 21%, and veterinary assistants & lab animal caretakers have 20% growth.

Explore the Skilled Trades Pathway in the Career Profiles section of AgCareers.com. Find your skilled trade career and set up job alerts now at www.AgCareers.com.