Strong focus on retention of talent across the market

The Irish Farmers Journal carried out a survey earlier this month examining the agri jobs market from an employer perspective. The survey, completed by agri food companies across a range of industry sectors, indicates a positive picture for employment growth in 2025.

However, while headcount is increasing and redundancies remain limited for the moment, employers continue to face significant challenges in sourcing and retaining talent in a competitive labour market.

In response to the survey, 56% of respondents said they increased their headcount in 2025, compared to 44% who did not. This marks a clear signal of expansion across the sector, particularly at a time when many industries are navigating cost pressures and global uncertainty.

Encouragingly, when asked if they had decreased their headcount this year, 90% said no, while only 10% reported reductions. These figures suggest that the agri food industry is not only stable but growing. Companies were actively hiring rather than cutting roles last year, reinforcing confidence in the long-term outlook of the sector.

Difficulty filling roles

Despite expansion, recruitment remains a pressing concern for employers. Of those surveyed, 51% of companies said they are experiencing difficulty filling roles, while 49% are not. The near-even split indicates that while some employers are successfully navigating the hiring landscape, talent shortages remain a very real issue.

When asked about the biggest challenges in filling job roles, 45% of respondents identified a limited talent pool as their main obstacle. This suggests that the availability of suitably qualified or experienced candidates is not keeping pace with demand.

Competition from other industries was selected by 40% of respondents, underscoring the reality that agri food employers are competing not only within their own sector but also against manufacturing, technology, logistics and multinational employers for the same workforce.

A lack of affordable housing for employees was selected by 20% of companies as a recruitment barrier. This highlights a broader societal issue that directly impacts workforce mobility. In rural or regional areas where many agri food businesses operate, limited housing supply can restrict the ability of companies to attract staff from outside the immediate locality. High turnover due to seasonal work accounted for 2% of responses, while 3% selected other challenges.

Salaries leading the way

The survey also asked employers what they believed was the number one priority for employees when considering roles. The results point clearly to remuneration as the dominant factor.

The majority (55%) said employees are primarily seeking an increase in salary. This reflects broader cost-of-living pressures and a more salary-focused workforce. In a competitive jobs market, where 56% of companies are increasing headcount, candidates are likely to have greater bargaining power and higher expectations around pay.

Work-life balance was selected by 18% of respondents, followed by career progression at 11%. Company benefits and hybrid working flexibility both accounted for 7%, which indicates that while these factors are valued, they are secondary to pay and balance considerations. Doing meaningful work was selected by just 2%.

For employers that are struggling to fill roles, these findings are particularly relevant. Competitive salary packages, clearly defined progression pathways and work-life balance policies play a critical role in attracting and retaining staff.

Skills in demand

Understanding which skills are most in demand provides further insight into recruitment challenges. The survey highlighted that 40% of employers believe technical and practical skills are the most sought-after across the sector. This aligns with the operational nature of agri food businesses, where machinery handling, quality control, food safety compliance and engineering maintenance all require hands-on expertise.

Digital and technology skills were the second most in-demand category at 21%. As agri food businesses increasingly adopt automation and data analytics, digital competence is becoming critical. From farm management software to advanced processing technologies, digital transformation is reshaping traditional roles.

Soft skills (like communication) accounted for 15% of responses, while business and financial skills came in at 13%. Sustainable and green skills were selected by 8%, and a further 3% selected other skills.

Overall, the agri jobs survey presents a sector that is expanding rather than contracting. To sustain momentum, employers may need to address salary expectations, invest in skills development and strengthen employer branding to compete with other industries.

Collaboration with education providers, training initiatives and regional development policies may also be necessary to expand the available talent pool.