Australia’s horticulture industry comprises fruit, vegetables, nuts, flowers, turf and nursery products. The industry operates in a highly competitive domestic and international market, is labour intensive and mostly seasonal. The horticulture industry also contributes significantly to the prosperity of people living in rural and regional Australia.
Industry Statistics
Here we provide some key data about the industry. It is important to understand the size and scope of our industry and future opportunities.
Skills Outlook
In this section we provide an overview of the industry outlook and trends, new and emerging skills needs as well as identifying the priority skill needs of industry.
Careers
Information to help you understand the careers and pathways available in the horticulture and broader food and fiber industries.
Industry Statistics
$14.4B
The total production value of the Australian horticulture sector in 2018/19.
19.3%
Of the total agriculture production value in Australia in 2018/19.
61,800
The number of people employed in Australian horticulture in 2018/19.
$2.76B
The total value of Australia’s fresh horticulture exports in 2019/20.
Farming Statistics
1.6M
Australians working in farming, agriculture, and related industries.
3% GDP
Of the total agriculture production value in Australia in 2018/19.
446M
Hectares of agricultural land, accounting for 58% of Australian land use.
$100B
The Australian agriculture fisheries and forestry sector aims to achieve $100 billion in farm gate output by 2030.
SKILLS OUTLOOK
$60 Billion
Australia’s agricultural industry is worth around 60 billion dollars to the Australian economy.
Ensuring this industry has a consistent source of skilled and developed workers is key to the future success of the industry.
Anticipating future skills needs in the agriculture, horticulture and conservation and land management sector remains crucial to preparing to meet the new demands of food markets, business requirements and biosecurity in Australia. The skills needed across the industry are very broad, as is to be expected in this sector.
Skills are needed to support work in areas including:
- Farm Management and Agribusiness
- Agricultural Science
- Horticulture
- Permaculture
- Organic Farming and Horticulture
- Viticulture
- Medicinal Crops
- Food Science and Biotechnology
- Quality Management
CAREERS
Horticulture is the art, technology, business, education and science of plants. It is the food we eat, the landscapes we live and play in, the environments we thrive in. It is the business of managing and using what we grow, while Maintaining the health of our soil, air, and water, and the well-being of our children, our communities, and our world. In short – it’s all about plants! There are hundreds of career pathways. Here are some of them to get you started exploring.
- Aeroculture specialist
- Agronomist
- Aquaculture specialist
- Biosecurity Specialist
- Culinary Horticulturist
- Enologist
- Farmer
- Food scientist
- Grower
- Hydroponics specialist
- Integrated pest management specialist
- Irrigation Specialist
- Olericulturist
- Plant breeder
- Plant diagnostician
- Plant inspector
- Plant Nutritionist
- Plant propagator
- Produce Inspector
- Produce marketer
- Soil specialist
- Urban farmer
- Viticulturist
