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.png "Skilled Trade Job Outlook: 2026")
Bonnie Johnson
April 28, 2026
Newsletter ArticleEach year, AgCareers surveys employers to determine which roles they struggle to fill. Skilled/technical trade jobs are the most difficult for agriculture and food employers to hire for. Additionally, employers note that production/labor intensive positions were the most challenging type of role to recruit.
What does that mean for you? Opportunities abound for skilled trade and production professionals in the agricultural industry, and employers are looking for you!
Today, many organizations are prioritizing skills-based hiring; companies are broadening their candidate pools and focusing on practical capability rather than traditional credentials—an essential move as automation and digital tools reshape job requirements. Companies are expanding technical upskilling and cross-functional training to prepare employees for technology-enhanced operations.
The agriculture and food industry is looking for skilled individuals to fill a variety of roles and will often provide training. We examined trends from 2025 to evaluate job openings posted on AgCareers.com. Looking at jobs by career type, we observed the highest number of job openings in the operator/general laborer category, with sales, operations, maintenance, and on-farm roles also showing strong hiring numbers (see the chart below for the top 5 career types on AgCareers.com).
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We also analyzed the top trending career types by those with the highest percentage increase in job postings. The most growth was in the warehouse/inventory category, but notably, truck drivers, manufacturing/production, and technicians were also in the top 5.
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*Based on jobs posted on AgCareers.com
If you’re looking for skilled trade and production opportunities, we’ll help you focus on careers that are the best fit for you: https://www.agcareers.com/search.cfm
