Contractors, Operators and Supervisors in Agriculture, Horticulture and Aquaculture (NOC 825)

What They Do Farmers and farm managers manage the operations of farms, ranches, and orchards. They grow crops and raise/breed farm animals and market farm products. Agricultural and related service contractors and managers direct and co-ordinate services such as artificial insemination, livestock shearing, ploughing, cultivating, and harvesting. Specialized livestock workers carry out feeding, health, and breeding programs for livestock. They may also supervise farm workers/labourers. Nursery and greenhouse operators and managers direct and co-ordinate the activities of their staff who grow/market trees, shrubs, flowers, and plants. Landscaping and grounds maintenance contractors and managers direct and co-ordinate the operations of landscaping, lawn care, tree, and other services. Landscape and horticulture supervisors direct and co-ordinate the activities of associated workers. Aquaculture operators and managers direct and co-ordinate the operations of facilities that cultivate and harvest fish, shellfish, and marine plants.

Where They Find Work —    Top Occupational Areas Farms 89% Administrative and support waste management and remediation services 4% Arts entertainment and recreation 2% Support activities for farms 1% Public administration 1% Wholesale trade 1% People in this group work for farmers, agricultural services, nurseries/greenhouses, landscaping companies, cemeteries, lawn care/tree service companies, landscaping departments of governments/other organizations, private fish hatcheries, and commercial aquatic farms. They may also be self-employed. The unionization rate (10%) is below the average (32%) for all occupations. The highest concentrations (per 10,000 people) of are found in Alberta and Prince Edward Island while the lowest concentrations are in New Brunswick and Newfoundland.

Related Occupation(s) Nursery and Greenhouse Workers (NOC 8432) General Farm Workers (NOC 8431)

Something to Think About To enhance your professional knowledge and broaden your opportunities, consider: Continually updating knowledge/ skills Improving interpersonal skills Setting standards and guidelines for safety/operations Learning how to build and maintain customer relations

Use the "Where They Find Work" graph to target your worksearch. It may be easier to get into industries with the most people in this field. Want to work in an industry that hires fewer workers in this field? To be more marketable, check out whether you have the most up-to-date knowledge and technology skills for that industry. Check the provincial/territorial or local information (http://www.labourmarketinformation.ca) for opportunities in your area.

What You Need In general, you may need some high school education or a high school diploma. You usually need a college diploma, and specialized training and experience in agriculture, livestock husbandry, aquaculture, landscaping or horticulture. You may need a training certificate and a licencse in the province/territory where you'll work. Almost 2 in 5 have a community college diploma and 2 in 5 have an undergraduate university degree.

Required/Related    Educational Programs* This will let you explore the program(s) of study that lead to this (these) occupation(s). Mechanical Engineering Technologies (C315) Agricultural Technologies (C610) Agricultural Technologies (T610) Commerce - Business Administration (U120) Sociology (U880) *  These educational programs are listed in the order in which they are most likely to supply graduates to this occupation.

Useful Experience/Skills Co-ordinating skills Communication skills Supervising Computer skills		Useful High School Subjects Chemistry Biology Computer-related courses English
Depending on your background, this Education, Training, and Experience info will help you to: Choose your high school courses Plan your post-secondary program Choose relevant volunteer work Decide what new skills to learn Read job ads, professional journals, and newspapers for what the industry needs and employers want. Talk to employers and employees to find out the exceptional skills and knowledge that will help you land a job.

Current Conditions Your work prospects are rated LIMITED because: Employement grew at an average rate. Hourly wages ($15.33) are close to the average ($18.07), and the rate of wage growth is close to the average. The unemployment rate (2%) is below the 2004 average (7%).

Work Prospects Current   Limited   2009   Limited

Outlook to 2009 Your work prospects will continue to be LIMITED because: The employment growth rate will likely be average. The consolidation of farms, technological innovation, and low prices for agricultural products will likely continue to slow the demand for workers. Although the retirement rate will likely be average, the number of retiring workers should contribute to job openings. The number of job openings will likely exceed the number of job seekers. This will not be significant enough to have an impact on the work prospects.

Preparing for the Competition You'll find more job opportunities looking for work as a landscaping/grounds maintenance contractor, farm contractor, and specialized livestock worker.

If you are beginning your career investigation, national outlooks will give you a good overview of trends. Ready to explore an occupation in more detail? Check provincial/territorial or local outlooks (http://www.labourmarketinformation.ca).

What you can expect to make (Average Hourly Earnings ($/hour))
Age Group This Occupation All Occupations 20-24 $12.61 $11.74 25-54 $16.31 $19.76 55+ $19.55 $19.59 Overall Average for Ages (20+) This Occupation All Occupations $15.33 $18.07		Hourly wages ($15.33) are close to the national average ($18.07). These earnings are close to the average for occupations in the primary industry sector and are below average for all technical, professional, and skilled occupations. These wages grew at an average rate from 2002 to 2004.
Your salary can be affected by your background, the company's size and benefits, and the region and setting (urban or rural). Check out salaries in your own region by seeking info from: Employees/unions/associations Employers/human resource people Training institutions and placement services Company websites Professional/trade journals

Below the average
The unemployment rate (2%) is below the 2004 average (7%). This rate is below the average for technical, professional, and skilled occupations. A low unemployment rate often means less competition for the jobs available. But you still need to have the required training and experience. A high unemployment rate doesn't necessarily mean you'll have great difficulty getting hired. But it can mean a fluctuating demand for workers, and you may experience bouts of unemployment.		Year This Occupation All Occupations 1991 2% 10% 1992 2% 11% 1993 2% 11% 1994 2% 10% 1995 2% 10% 1996 2% 10% 1997 2% 9% 1998 2% 8% 1999 2% 8% 2000 2% 7% 2001 2% 7% 2002 2% 8% 2003 2% 8% 2004 2% 7%

% of part-time work is about the same as average
This Occupation All Occupations Full-time 85% 81% Part-time 15% 19%		There were 245,900 workers employed in these occupations in 2004, a decrease of 19% since 1997. The percentage of part-time workers is 15% compared to the 2004 average (19%) and has dropped significantly since 1997.
When full-time work is difficult to find, look at alternatives such as contract work, consulting, shared positions, and telework.

Above average
The percentage of self-employed workers (91%) is above the 2004 average of 15% and has dropped since 1997.		This Occupation All Occupations Self-Employed 91% 15%
Does this occupation have an above-average rate of self-employment? Consider being your own boss if you can't find work with an employer.

Age Group This Occupation All Occupations 20-24 3% 10% 25-54 63% 72% 55+ 31% 12%		The relatively low percentage of younger workers suggests few entry-level job openings, and could point to a greater need for workers with experience or a number of years of training. The older-than-average worker (47) will likely be offset by a later retirement age (69) resulting in an average retirement rate to 2009.
Look at the youngest group. A low percentage means fewer openings for brand-new workers. A high percentage means more openings for brand-new workers. Look at the oldest age group. A high percentage means positions could open up from retirements. This could be significant for both mid-career changers and brand-new workers.

Average
The percentage of women is 22% compared to the 2004 average of 48% and has dropped significantly since 1997.		This Occupation All Occupations Percent Women 22% 48%

This page last modified on: 2007-03-31