Source: PURDUE UNIVERSITY submitted to NRP
A REPORT OF EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLEGE GRADUATES IN THE FOOD AND AGIRCULTURAL SCIENCES, UNITED STATES, 2015-2020
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
OTHER GRANTS
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1003844
Grant No.
2014-38837-22371
Cumulative Award Amt.
$51,000.00
Proposal No.
2014-08742
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Sep 1, 2014
Project End Date
Feb 29, 2016
Grant Year
2014
Program Code
[FF-M]- IYFC, Admin. Discretionary & Reim. Research
Recipient Organization
PURDUE UNIVERSITY
(N/A)
WEST LAFAYETTE,IN 47907
Performing Department
College of Agriculture
Non Technical Summary
USDA/NIFA Employment Opportunities for College Graduates in Food, Agriculture, Renewable Natural Resources, and the Environment, United States, 2015-2020.The proposed project entitled "Employment Opportunities for College Graduates in Food, Agriculture, Renewable Natural Resources, and the Environment, United States, 2015-2020" will be a comprehensive study that provides a five-year national projection of employment opportunities for college graduates (B.S. degree and higher) in food, agriculture, renewable natural resources, and the environment. This will be the eighth in the series of highly successful and widely utilized reports dating back to 1980. Using 2010 Classification of Instruction Programs codes, graduation data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) within the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) of the U.S. Department of Education, and enrollment data compiled by the Food and Agricultural Education Information System (FAEIS) will be utilized to determine the number of qualified graduates.Employment opportunities that require college graduates with expertise to enter occupations in food, agriculture, renewable natural resources, and the environment will be based upon ten-year occupational projections maintained by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor.A diverse panel of education experts from throughout the United States will assist the project investigators and consultants in interpreting the data, and in providing recommendations of content to be included in a summary report. This report will be made available through print and electronic media, and will be disseminated to USDA, NIFA, university, industry, and non-governmental organization representatives, and to other stakeholders.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
90360103020100%
Knowledge Area
903 - Communication, Education, and Information Delivery;

Subject Of Investigation
6010 - Individuals;

Field Of Science
3020 - Education;
Goals / Objectives
The proposed project entitled "Employment Opportunities for College Graduates in Food, Agriculture, Renewable Natural Resources, and the Environment, United States, 2015-2020" will be a comprehensive study that provides a five-year national projection of employment opportunities for college graduates (B.S. degree and higher) in food, agriculture, renewable natural resources, and the environment. This will be the eighth in the series of highly successful and widely utilized reports dating back to 1980.
Project Methods
QUALIFIED GRADUATESNumbers of qualified graduates--baccalaureate degree and higher--for food, agriculture, renewable natural resources, and environment positions in the United States will be determined using 2012-13 degrees conferred data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) surveys conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) of the U.S. Department of Education. The NCES data include postsecondary degrees conferred by all accredited public and private universities in the United States. Graduates are classified by degree level, degree specialization, and selected demographic characteristics.Agriculture and Natural Resources GraduatesFrom the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIPS) 2010, report authors and educator consultants to the project will select degree specializations that are offered by colleges of agriculture and life sciences, forestry and natural resources, and veterinary medicine.Report authors and educator consultants to the project will use historical graduate employment information, personal observations, and experiences to estimate the percentage of qualified graduates by degree specialization who are expected to enter occupations in the food, agriculture, renewable natural resources, and environment employment sectors. The report authors and educator consultants will identify four occupational clusters for the purpose of categorizing graduates with degree specializations into four broad areas of expertise. The projected clusters are Management and Business, Science and Engineering, Agricultural and Forestry Production, and Education, Communication, and Governmental Services.Adjustments will be made to the total number of graduates to compensate for baccalaureate and master's graduates whom continue their education, or for degree recipients who otherwise do not enter the labor force including foreign graduates who return to the home country. Additional adjustments may be made to the projected numbers of agriculture and natural resources graduates using recent enrollment data trends reported by the Food and Agricultural Education Information System.Report authors and educator consultants will assign percentages of qualified graduates in each selected degree specialization to the four projected occupational clusters of Management and Business, Science and Engineering, Agricultural and Forestry Production, and Education, Communication, and Governmental Services.Allied GraduatesFrom the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIPS) 2010, report authors and educator consultants will select degree specializations that are offered by colleges of biological sciences, engineering, health sciences, business, communication, etc. whom are expected to compete with agriculture and natural resources graduates for employment.Report authors and educator consultants will use historical graduate employment information, personal observations, and experiences to estimate the percentage of qualified graduates by degree specialization who are expected to enter occupations in the food, agriculture, renewable natural resources, and environment employment sectors. The report authors and educator consultants will use four occupational clusters for the purpose of categorizing graduates with degree specializations into four broad areas of expertise. The projected clusters are Management and Business, Science and Engineering, Agricultural and Forestry Production, and Education, Communication, and Governmental Services.Adjustments will be made to the total number of graduates to compensate for baccalaureate and master's graduates whom continue their education, or for degree recipients who otherwise do not enter the labor force including foreign graduates who return to the home country.Report authors and educator consultants to the project will assign percentages of qualified graduates in each selected degree specialization to the four projected occupational clusters of Management and Business, Science and Engineering, Agricultural and Forestry Production, and Education, Communication, and Governmental Services.EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIESEmployment opportunities that require college graduates with expertise to enter occupations in the food, agriculture, renewable natural resources, and environmental employment sectors will be determined from data maintained by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). Ten-year projected annual employment opportunities are reported for each occupation included in the BLS taxonomy.Report authors and educator consultants to the project will select occupations that would be expected to require college graduates with expertise to work in the food, agriculture, renewable natural resources, and environment employment sectors.Report authors and educator consultants to the project will calculate average annual job openings for each selected occupation, representing one-tenth of the 10-year BLS projections.For each selected occupation, report authors and educator consultants to the project will determine the percentage of the average annual job openings that would require graduates having expertise in food, agriculture, renewable natural resources, and environment academic specialties. Average annual employment opportunities for each selected occupation will be determined from these percentage estimates.Report authors and educator consultants to the project will assign percentages of the annual employment openings in each selected occupation to the four projected occupational clusters of Management and Business, Science and Engineering, Agricultural and Forestry Production, and Education, Communication, and Governmental Services.

Progress 09/01/14 to 02/29/16

Outputs
Target Audience:Target Audiences: university faculty, students and career staff personnel; propspective students and families; secondary and tertiary educational institutions; employers and recruiters; media;majority students and underrepresented minority students. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?A. Web Site: Employment Opportunities for College Graduates in Food, Agriculture, Renewable Natural Resources, and the Environment, United States, 2015-2020. https://www.purdue.edu/usda/employment/ B. Downloadable (pdf) Report (2-page) Summary: Downloadable Report Summary (2-page) pdf: https://www.purdue.edu/usda/employment/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/2-Page-USDA-Employ.pdf . There have been more than 32,000 unique page views recorded over the past year (more specifically, between May 06, 2015 and May 11, 2016). C. Professionally High Quality Printed Copies of the 2-page Report Summary: Professional, quality printed copies of the 2-page report summary (above) were printed, packaged and mailed (250 - 500 copies each) to Land-Grant (1862, 1890, 1994) and select NARRU and related institutions (listed below; total of 199 packages, 250/pkg), for a total of nearly 50,000 Report Summary individual printed copies mailed (see listing institutions directly below). Alabama A&M University Alcorn State University American Samoa Community College APLU/APS, Washington, DC Arkansas State University Auburn University California State Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo California State Polytechnic University, Fresno California State Polytechnic University, Chico California State Polytechnic University, Pomona Central State University Clemson University Colorado State University Cornell University Delaware State University Florida A&M University Fort Valley State University Illinois State University Iowa State University Kansas State University Kentucky State University Langston University Lincoln University Louisiana State University Michigan State University Mississippi State University Montana State University New Mexico State University North Carolina A&T State University North Carolina State University North Dakota State University Oklahoma State University Oregon State University Prairie View A&M University Purdue University Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey South Carolina State University South Dakota State University Southern AgCredit, Brookhaven, MS Southern University and A&M College Southern University Illinois, Carbondale Tennessee State University Texas A&M University Texas Tech University The Ohio State University The Pennsylvania State University Tuskegee University University of Alaska University of Arizona University of Arkansas University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff University of California, Berkeley University of California, Davis University of California, Riverside University of Connecticut University of Delaware University of Florida University of Georgia University of Guam University of Hawaii University of Idaho University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign University of Kentucky University of Maine University of Maryland, College Park University of Maryland, Eastern Shore University of Massachusetts, Amherst University of Minnesota, CFANS University of Missouri University of Nebraska University of Nevada, Reno University of New Hampshire University of Puerto Rico University of Rhode Island University of Tennessee, Knoxville University of the District of Columbia University of the Virgin Islands University of Vermont University of Wisconsin-Madison University of Wyoming Utah State University Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University Virginia State University Washington State University West Virginia State University West Virginia University Bay Mills Community College Cankdeska Cikana Community College College of the Menominee Nation Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College Institute of American Indian Arts Leech Lake Tribal College Little Big Horn College Natural Resource Sciences Navajo Technical College Nebraska Indian Community College Northwest Indian College Oglala Lakota College Sinte Gleska University Sitting Bull College Turtle Mountain Community College United Tribes Technical College Angelo State University Cameron University University of Louisiana at Monroe University of Louisiana at Lafayette Louisiana Tech University McNeese State University Eastern Kentucky University Fort Hays State University Missouri State University Morehead State University Murray State University University of Wisconsin-Platteville Sam Houston State University Southeast Missouri State University Sul Ross State University Tarleton State University Tennessee Technological University Texas A&M University, Kingsville Truman State University University of Arkansas at Monticello University of Hawaii-Hilo University of Nebraska - Kearny University of Tennessee at Martin West Texas A&M University Western Illinois University Western Kentucky University Arkansas Tech University Southern Arkansas University University of Minnesota at Crookston University of Central Missouri Oklahoma Panhandle State University Middle Tennessee State University Stephen F. Austin State University Texas A&M University - Commerce Texas State University, San Marcos University of Wisconsin - River Falls D. Multimedia Production of Summary - Developed YouTube Videos "The Door to Opportunity" in English & Spanish YouTube videos "The Door to Opportunity" were composed based on the Report Summary and presented in English & Spanish languages. https://www.purdue.edu/usda/employment/videos-the-door-to-opportunity/ Listing of Non-Purdue Institutions Whom Purdue Communications Personalized the Videos to be Institutional Specific. Southern University and A&M College (Louisiana; English) McNeese State University (Louisiana; English) Tarleton State University (Texas; English) University of Georgia (English) Eastern Kentucky University (English) Clemson University (South Carolina; English) University of California Berkeley (English) Ratcliffe Hicks School of Agriculture, University of Connecticut (English) California State Polytechnic University -- Pomona (English/Spanish) E. News and Mass Media "Releases" of the Report According to Purdue's Marketing & Media records, there were a number of documentable media reports on the most recent USDA Employment Opportunities Report. We believe more than 80 media mentions of the report over the year since the report was released, including: NBC News: "Agriculture job growth to boom over next five years" (May 2015) This is more coverage on a report by Purdue and the USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture that suggests there will be nearly 58,000 high-skilled openings in an average year in food production, natural resources and environmental protection in the future. Also featured in: Approximately 20 placements, including Bloomberg Businessweek, Des Moines Register, Poughkeepsie Journal, Grove (Okla.) Sun, Yankton (S.C.) Daily Press & Dakotan, Santa Rosa (Calif.) Press Democrat, McPherson (Kan.) Sentinel and agricultural publications. Link: http://www.cnbc.com/2015/05/20/agriculture-fertile-ground-for-job-seekers.html Also: ABC News U.S. News & World Report Birmingham News Including Ag-related niche publications, counting about 80 placements. NBC News ABC News U.S. News & World Report Birmingham (Alabama) News Bloomberg Businessweek Des Moines (Iowa) Register Grove (Oklahoma) Sun Poughkeepsie (New York) Journal McPherson (Kansas) Sentinel Santa Rosa (California) Press Democrat TIME online Yankton (South Dakota) Daily Press & Dakotan Additional select links (over 60) available upon request. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? USDA/NIFA Employment Opportunities for College Graduates in the Food, Renewable Resources, and the Environment, United States, 2015-2020: It was determined that during the next five years (2015-2020), U.S. college graduates will find good employment opportunities if they have expertise in food, agriculture, renewable natural resources, or the environment. Between 2015 and 2020, we expect to see 57,900 average annual openings for graduates with bachelor's or higher degrees in those areas. According to our projections, almost half of the opportunities will be in management and business. Another 27% will be in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Jobs in sustainable food and biomaterials production will make up 15%, while 12% of the openings will be in education, communication, and governmental services. The projections in this report are based on data from several sources. The Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts a 10.8% increase in the U.S. labor force between 2012 and 2022 due to job growth and openings from retirement or other replacements. We expect employment opportunities in food, agriculture, renewable natural resources, and environment occupations to grow more than 5% between 2015 and 2020 for college graduates with bachelor's or higher degrees. Job opportunities for food, agriculture, renewable natural resources, and environment graduates in STEM areas are expected to grow. Expect the strongest job market for plant scientists, food scientists, sustainable biomaterials specialists, water resources scientists and engineers, precision agriculture specialists, and farm-animal veterinarians. We expect to see a strong employment market for e-commerce managers and marketing agents, ecosystem managers, agriscience educators, crop advisors, and pest control specialists. Growth in job opportunities will vary. Employers in some food, agriculture, renewable natural resources, and environment areas will struggle to find enough graduates to fill jobs. In a few areas, employers will find an oversupply of job seekers. Employers will continue to seek to hire a diverse workforce reflective of society as a whole.

Publications

  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: https://www.purdue.edu/usda/employment/
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: https://www.purdue.edu/usda/employment/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/2-Page-USDA-Employ.pdf
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WfrDVbIxUs