A Study of the
Workforce Training Needs
for the
Agribusiness Industry
in Georgia
Conducted by
the Center for Agribusiness and
Economic Development (CAED),
University of Georgia
for
the Office of Economic Development,
University System of Georgia (USG)
2008
Georgia Agribusiness Survey 2008
Slide # 2
Survey Methodology
Analysis based on data collected from two broad sources:
1.
Agribusiness Needs Assessment Survey
One-on-one interviews were conducted with approximately 10 companies
2.
Secondary data Sources
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Georgia Department of Labor
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA)
U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns,
U.S.D.A.’s Food and Agricultural Education Information System (FAEIS)
University System of Georgia/BOR
National Center for Education Statistics
Occupational Supply and Demand System
Georgia Agribusiness Survey 2008
Slide # 3
Survey Respondents’ Locations and
Response Rates
Survey
Response Rate
11%
# of Surveys
Distributed
1,994
# of Completed
Surveys
200
# of undeliverable
surveys
142
Georgia Agribusiness Survey 2008
Slide # 4
Respondents by Industry Sector
Number of
Businesses
Number of
Employees
Administration and Education Related to Agricultural Production
11
2,935
Agricultural Chemical & Machinery Manufacturing
Farm Product Warehousing and Storage
17
7
18
12
14
6
1,319
714
1,841
5,549
661
67
Farm Suppliers and Food Wholesale and Retail Distributors
15
1,032
Forestry and Logging Operations
Green Industry
8
27
5
18
11
7
22
179
1,369
94
223
1,883
2,132
1,670
Agribusiness Areas (excluding missing values)
Agricultural Finance and Risk Minimization
Agricultural Product Manufacturing
Animal Production/Processing
Crop Production
Nature-based/Agro Tourism
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
Pulp and Paper Manufacturing
Support Activities for Agricultural Production
Wood Product Manufacturing
Georgia Agribusiness Survey 2008
Slide # 5
Current and Future Openings for Collegeeducated Workers in the Agribusiness
Industry
Projections based on occupational trends in the
agribusiness industry, using data from:
1. Georgia Department of Labor’s Long-term
Occupational Projections to 2014
2. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Long-term
Occupational Projections to 2016
identifying growth and declines by occupations and education requirements where
college-level agricultural-related training is most typically expected.
Georgia Agribusiness Survey 2008
Slide # 6
Georgia Agribusiness Demand
Long-Term Occupational Projections for Occupations in
the Agribusiness-related NAICS Codes
2004-2014
Type of Ag-related Occupation
Total - college-degree
occupations for degree
programs (education levels 1-6)
Total - college-degree
occupations for certificate
programs (education level 7)
Annual
Openings
from Growth
Annual
Total
Openings
Annual
from
Openings
Replacements
Annual
Growth
Rate
701
888
1,580
1.5%
5
14
20
0.6%
706
902
1,600
1.5%
Total non-college occupations
3,223
4,517
7,740
1.4%
Total Georgia Agribusiness
3,924
5,405
9,320
Total college occupations
(education levels 1 - 7)
Georgia Agribusiness Survey 2008
Slide # 7
Supply - Degrees Conferred, USG, 2002 - 2006:
Agribusiness Core and Allied Programs
Total - All
Award
Levels
Description
Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, And
Related Sciences
Natural Resources And Conservation
Total
Undergraduate
(including
certificates)
Total
Graduate
1480
1093
387
797
521
276
Architecture And Related Services
585
353
232
Education
Engineering
Family And Consumer Sciences/Human
Sciences
129
418
105
219
24
199
160
135
25
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
201
81
120
Total - Core and Allied Programs
3770
2507
1263
754
501
253
average per year - Core and Allied
Programs - all award levels
Georgia Agribusiness Survey 2008
Slide # 8
Georgia Labor Market:
Market-Adjusted Gap Analysis
(using USDA recommended adjustments)
Occupational Clusters market adjustments made
and excluding certificates
USG -Agriculture and Georgia Job Gap: Job
Allied Disciplines Openings
Openings
Average Annual
(Demand)
Less Average
Supply
Supply
Scientific and Engineering
Management and Business
Agricultural and Forestry
Production
Education, Communication,
and Governmental Services
Summary Statistics
141
214
106
195
320
163
54
106
57
115
577
367
1,045
252
468
Bottom Line: Supply = 55% of Projected Demand
i.e.
almost ½ of projected demand will go unfilled
(based on current trends)
Georgia Agribusiness Survey 2008
Slide # 9
Gap Analysis for College-educated
Workforce in Georgia
Education, Communication,
and Governmental Services
5 year Adjusted
Average (Supply)
Georgia Employment
Openings (Demand)
5 year Adjusted
Average (Supply)
Agricultural and Forestry Production
Georgia Employment
Openings (Demand)
5 year Adjusted
Average (Supply)
Management and Business
Georgia Employment
Openings (Demand)
5 year Adjusted
Average (Supply)
Scientific and Engineering
Georgia Agribusiness Survey 2008
Georgia Employment
Openings (Demand)
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
500
Slide # 10
Growth in College Enrollment by
Degree, Georgia as Compared to U.S.
2000 – Undergraduate Graduate
Professional Student
Student
2006
Student
Student
Student
enrollment enrollment
Trends Enrollment
Enrollment Enrollment - Full-time - Part-time
U.S.
19.2%
23.3%
12.5%
25.9%
10.8%
Georgia
46.8%
25.6%
-21.5%
39.7%
46.4%
Georgia Agribusiness Survey 2008
Slide # 11
Degree Program Offerings: by Fields
Summary Fields/Majors
Agricultural Education
Animal Sciences (including dairy & poultry)
Engineering and Technology
Environmental Science
Food Science/Food Technology
Plant/Crop Sciences and Plant Protection/Pest
Mgt/Entomology
Agriculture/Agribusiness/Ag Economics/General Business
Number of Core & Allied Courses
UGA as % of
USG
UGA
System
3
1
33.3%
18
15
83.3%
28
6
21.4%
14
7
50.0%
4
4
100.0%
13
11
84.6%
7
5
71.4%
General Agriculture/Agricultural Production
9
2
22.2%
Horticulture, Landscaping, and Turfgrass Management
13
7
53.8%
Public Relations/Communications & Leadership
3
2
66.7%
Forestry/Natural Resources/Conservation
18
13
72.2%
Other Fields
21
6
28.6%
151
79
52.3%
Georgia Agribusiness Survey 2008
Slide # 12
Degree Program Offerings:
by Award Levels
USG Number
of Degree
Programs
Number Offered
by UGA
UGA as % of
System
Offerings
Certificates of <1 year
11
7
63.6%
Associate’s Degrees
35
0
0.0%
Bachelor’s Degrees
49
30
61.2%
Advanced
Certificates/
dual BS/MS degrees
4
1
25.0%
Master’s Degrees
35
27
77.1%
Doctoral Degrees
17
14
82.4%
Degree Program Level
Georgia Agribusiness Survey 2008
Slide # 13
Degrees Offered by Institution
Institutions
Certificates Associate's Bachelor's Advanced Master's Doctoral Total by
of <1 year
Certificate
Institution
Gainesville State
Georgia College
and State
Georgia Southern
Georgia State
Southern
Polytechnic State
University of West
Georgia
ABAC
2
0
7
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
10
2
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
2
2
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
16
2
0
0
0
18
Fort Valley State
University of
Georgia
Georgia Tech
Other Institutions
0
7
4
0
7
30
0
1
1
27
0
14
12
79
0
1
0
7
6
0
1
0
5
1
3
0
15
9
Total Number by
Award Level
11
35
49
4
35
17
151
Georgia Agribusiness Survey 2008
Slide # 14
% of Full Time Positions Requiring a
College Degree in Georgia
# of
Average # of
Companies Employees
Category
Total # of
Workers
≥ 75% of positions
22
161
3,549
50 - 74% of positions
10
217
1,957
33 - 49% of positions
6
48
288
25 - 32% of positions
12
20
225
1 – 24% of positions
91
117
13,834
positions requiring no collegeeducation
56
41
2,115
Summary/Totals
195
113
21,968
(excluding missing values)
Georgia Agribusiness Survey 2008
Slide # 15
Expectations of Future College
Degree Requirements
As you look forward to the future, how important will it be for new
employees to have a college degree?
Answer Options
In the next 2 - 5
years
In the next 6 - 10
years
Very
Important
Somewhat
Important
Not
Important
Don't Know/
Not Sure
58
74
31
15
(32.6%)
(41.6%)
(17.4%)
(8.4%)
76
(44.7%)
63
(37.1%)
14
(8.2%)
17
(10.0%)
Georgia Agribusiness Survey 2008
Slide # 16
Expectations Regarding Future
Workforce Needs in Next 5 Years
Don't Know/Not
Sure
Decrease
13.3%
9.0%
0.0%
3.2%
25.4%
No Change
Increase 1-2%
13.2%
30.2%
17.1%
12.2%
15.3%
Increase 3-5%
Increase 6-10%
9.5%
14.9%
17.1%
19.6%
Increase > 10%
0.0%
5.0%
10.0%
15.0%
College-educated Workforce Needs
Georgia Agribusiness Survey 2008
20.0%
25.0%
30.0%
35.0%
General Workforce Needs
Slide # 17
Projected Demand by Educational Levels:
Agribusiness and Georgia Economy
69.9%
All Other Education
Levels
82.8%
21.3%
Bachelor's or Higher
Degree
Post-Secondary
Education
but Less than
Bachelor’s
15.0%
8.9%
2.2%
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
Agribusiness Industry - 2014
Georgia Agribusiness Survey 2008
50.0%
60.0%
70.0%
80.0% 90.0
%
State of Georgia - 2014
Slide # 18
Summary of Expectations Regarding
Future Demand
Question
Average Response
How important will it be for new employees to
have a college degree? 2 – 5 years out
2.0 = Somewhat Important
How important will it be for new employees to
have a college degree? 5 – 10 years out
1.8 = Somewhat to Very
Important
Over the next five years, what are your
expectations about your workforce needs? –
General Workforce
Over the next five years, what are your
expectations about your workforce needs? –
College-educated Workforce
3.4 = Increase between 1-2 and
3- 5%
3.2 = = Increase between 1-2
and 3- 5%
Georgia Agribusiness Survey 2008
Slide # 19
Need for Specific Subject Matter
Degree
Is a college degree in a specific subject matter currently required for
entry-level positions in your company?
Answer Options
Response Percent
Response Count
Yes - All
2.2%
4
Yes - Most
10.8%
20
Yes - Some
29.2%
54
No
57.8%
107
Completed Responses
185
Georgia Agribusiness Survey 2008
Slide # 20
Preferences of 50% or More for Positions
Requiring Specific Subject Matter
Geology/Earth Sciences
Food Science
Food Technology
Turfgrass Management
Animal Sciences
Soil Science
Agricultural Mechanization
Agricultural Education
Agricultural Engineering
Horticulture & Landscaping
Forestry
Plant/Crop Sciences
Environmental Sciences
Plant Protection & Pest Mgtt
IT/Computer Science
P. R. & Communications
Agribusiness/Ag Econ/Business
1.1%
2.4%
2.6%
3.4%
3.7%
3.9%
4.7%
5.5%
5.5%
5.8%
5.8%
6.3%
7.1%
7.4%
8.2%
11.3%
15.3%
0.0% 2.0% 4.0% 6.0% 8.0% 10.0% 12.0% 14.0% 16.0% 18.0%
Georgia Agribusiness Survey 2008
Slide # 21
Experience Filling Vacant Positions
by Disciplines/Fields
When you have vacant positions, for what proportion of the vacancies in the
following fields has it been difficult to find applicants with college degrees?
Answer Options
More than 50%
Never
15.4%
18.5%
21.2%
21.5%
23.8%
26.2%
28.8%
29.4%
30.9%
31.8%
42.1%
32.3%
44.4%
39.4%
20.0%
17.5%
16.9%
19.2%
18.8%
21.8%
29.4%
15.8%
Communications & P.R.
Waste Management
Research/Education
IT/Computer Science
Production & Processing
Marketing and Sales
Business Operations
Entry level Management
Engineering and Technical
Mid-level Management
Food/agricultural Security
Georgia Agribusiness Survey 2008
Slide # 22
Impact On Company’s Ability to Recruit
and Retain College-educated Employees
Impacts by Factors and Frequency
Answer Options
More than
50% of the
time
Average
(31-50%)
Less than
30% of the
time
Not at
All
Inadequate subject matter knowledge
28.1%
21.5%
31.4%
19.0%
Lack of prior work experience
20.7%
34.7%
24.8%
19.8%
Lack of interest in relocating
28.3%
14.2%
26.7%
30.8%
Employee expectations not consistent
with actual job requirements
32.8%
27.9%
23.0%
16.4%
Employees’ unrealistic promotion
and/or salary expectations
38.7%
27.4%
22.6%
11.3%
Georgia Agribusiness Survey 2008
Slide # 23
Recruitment Methods Used
by Survey Respondents
Which of the following methods do you use to recruit college-educated
applicants?
Answer Options
Promote from within
Hire current interns
Recruit competitors’ employees
Recruit at college career fairs
Use recruiting/search firms
Referrals from employees
University placement offices
Personal contacts at universities
GeorgiaHIRE.com
Frequently
(>50%)
Seldom or Never
(0 - 25%)
41.6%
9.0%
14.8%
9.1%
11.3%
25.0%
6.3%
19.4%
1.5%
25.5%
66.0%
57.7%
74.1%
76.8%
33.1%
72.7%
56.9%
94.8%
Georgia Agribusiness Survey 2008
Slide # 24
Recruitment and Hiring Success
Among Respondents: by Institution
From which of the following universities have you had most success in
hiring college-educated applicants?
Frequently
Answer Options
(more than 50%)
Never (0%)
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
Fort Valley State University
Georgia Institute of Technology
University of Georgia
22.9%
4.2%
4.2%
42.9%
54.3%
86.5%
74.0%
16.0%
Other university/college in Georgia
15.1%
53.5%
Auburn University
Clemson University
University of Florida
University of Tennessee
22.0%
8.6%
7.4%
5.2%
53.0%
67.7%
69.5%
75.0%
Other U.S. University
8.5%
62.0%
Georgia Agribusiness Survey 2008
Slide # 25
Impact of Future Training on Growth
How helpful would it be to the growth of your company if potential applicants
had college-level training in the following subject matter/emphases?
Somewhat or
Very Helpful
Not Helpful
Don't Know/
Not Sure
Production management
Ag business technology /computers in
agriculture
Government and Policy
Resource conservation
Agricultural mechanization /engineering
technology
73.3%
12.7%
14.0%
61.2%
26.3%
12.5%
55.0%
51.4%
28.9%
30.4%
16.1%
18.2%
50.7%
32.7%
16.7%
Integrated pest management
50.3%
34.0%
15.7%
Alternative fuel technology
Waste management
44.6%
39.7%
35.1%
39.0%
20.3%
21.2%
Integrated nutrient management
37.2%
41.9%
20.9%
Food/agrosecurity
36.9%
41.6%
21.5%
Answer Options
Georgia Agribusiness Survey 2008
Slide # 26
Impact of the Quality/Quantity of
a College-educated Workforce
on Companies’ Expansion
Quantity
No
67.8%
Yes
32.2%
Quality
No
65.9%
Yes
34.1%
0.0%
10.0%
Georgia Agribusiness Survey 2008
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
70.0%
80.0%
Slide # 27
Top Five Skills/Attributes Identified as
Requirements by Survey Respondents
Georgia Agribusiness Survey 2008
Slide # 28
Bottom Five Skills/Attributes Required
by Survey Respondents
Georgia Agribusiness Survey 2008
Slide # 29
Top 10 Skills and Attributes: Required
and Preferred Combined
Answer Options for Skills and
Attributes
Not
Preferred +
Important Required
Required
Preferred
Oral communication skills
Business ethics
Critical thinking/problem solving
Initiative
Customer relations skills
64.2%
61.3%
61.5%
69.2%
59.0%
32.9%
35.3%
33.9%
26.2%
35.8%
2.9%
3.5%
4.6%
4.7%
5.2%
97.1%
96.5%
95.4%
95.3%
94.8%
Leadership/team building skills
43.9%
50.3%
5.8%
94.2%
Office software/computer
competency
52.6%
39.3%
8.1%
91.9%
Written communication skills
47.9%
42.6%
9.5%
90.5%
Prior work experience
17.5%
69.6%
12.9%
87.1%
Project management skills
23.7%
59.8%
16.6%
83.4%
Georgia Agribusiness Survey 2008
Slide # 30
Summary of Skills Sought by Survey
Respondents
Beyond the technical knowledge, employers
have expressed the need for workers who can:
► think
► problem solve
► communicate
► provide quality customer service
► take initiative
Georgia Agribusiness Survey 2008
Slide # 31
Predictions about Future Innovations
and Demand for Trained Workers
In your sector of the industry, are there any innovations or
new technology likely in the foreseeable future that would
require new skills or training?
Answer Options
Response Percent
Yes - A significant number
10.7%
Yes - A moderate amount
34.5%
Yes - A few
31.5%
No
23.2%
Georgia Agribusiness Survey 2008
Slide # 32
Identification of Programs likely to
Impact Future Growth and Demand for
College-educated Workforce
In considering your future need for college-educated workers, which of the
following programs would be important to the growth of your company?
Very
Somewhat
Not
Don't Know/
Important Important Important Not Sure
Answer Options
Access to a university-managed
resume bank
21.7%
41.4%
20.4%
16.6%
Established internship programs
22.8%
43.0%
20.9%
13.3%
University career center
specifically for ag majors
25.0%
43.8%
18.8%
12.5%
University sponsored on-site
instruction
12.3%
39.4%
29.0%
19.4%
Georgia Agribusiness Survey 2008
Slide # 33
Critique of the USG’s Ability to
develop the Agribusiness Workforce
1.
2.
3.
4.
employers were pleased with the level of technical
training received by USG graduates
Students needed broader training in a wide range of
issues beyond “textbook” matters:
Students should be able to:
◊ understand and respond to changes in
government policy
◊ develop niche markets for Georgia’s specialty
crops
Students should receive additional training in
subjects such as economics and accounting
principles, business ethics, statistics, and leadership
Georgia Agribusiness Survey 2008
Slide # 34
Top 5 Programs Helpful for Future
Agribusiness Growth
How helpful would it be to the growth of your company if potential
applicants had college-level training in the following subject
matter/emphases? Top 5 responses only
(based on very helpful and somewhat helpful)
Answer Options
Very
Helpful
Somewhat
Helpful
Not
Helpful
Don’t Know
/Not Sure
Production Management
26.7%
46.7%
12.7%
14.0%
Ag Business Technology
/Computers in Agriculture
25.7%
35.5%
26.3%
12.5%
Government and Policy
18.8%
36.2%
28.9%
16.1%
Resource Conservation
14.2%
37.2%
30.4%
18.2%
Agricultural Mechanization
/Engineering Technology
12.0%
38.7%
32.7%
16.7%
Georgia Agribusiness Survey 2008
Slide # 35
Specific Recommendations for
Program and Curricula Changes
What changes in degrees and curricula would you recommend to the
University System of Georgia so that it could more readily respond to
anticipated changes in the U.S. agribusiness industry?
Number of
% of Total
Recommendations Recommendations
Broad Topic
Programs - Curriculum Content/Design
38
57.6%
Programs - Hands-on Learning
14
21.2%
Programs - Skill Development
2
3.0%
Higher Education Structure
6
9.1%
Other Recommendations
6
9.1%
Total number of recommendations
66
Georgia Agribusiness Survey 2008
Slide # 36
Specific Recommendations for
Changes in Existing Programs
the recurring themes mentioned were:
■business applications
■production agriculture
■alternative fuels
■water management
■food security
■ immigration issues
■work ethic
■Oral and written communication skills
■government/policy implications
■internships and other “real world” types of preparation
Georgia Agribusiness Survey 2008
Slide # 37
Specific Recommendations for New or
Enhanced Programs
Some specific degrees/majors mentioned included :
■ecosystem management
■endangered species habitat management
■GIS/GPS field use
■prescribed fire management
■wetland recognition, analysis, and protection
■food processing and manufacturing
Georgia Agribusiness Survey 2008
Slide # 38
Top Recommendations on Ways the
USG Can Support the Agribusiness
Industry
Recommendations from Survey Respondents
■Addressing program design and curriculum needs by
introducing more flexibility in curricula and program design
■Anticipating and responding to industry and labor market
changes
■Establishing industry partnerships and placement
opportunities
■Promoting the business of agribusiness
■Expanding opportunities for hand-on learning
Georgia Agribusiness Survey 2008
Slide # 39
Strategies and Recommendations
based on National Best Practices
◘Build Stronger Public/Private Partnerships
◘ Promote the Business of Agribusiness
◘ Expand Opportunities for Hands-On
Learning
◘ Introduce More Flexibility in Curricula and
Program Design
◘ Establish a USG Workforce Development
Strategy
Georgia Agribusiness Survey 2008
Slide # 40
Summary
major survey findings:
■ the projected demand for college-educated workers
with the requisite technical knowledge and “soft”
skills will exceed the projected supply generated by
the University System.
■ DOL projections are that occupations that require
postsecondary education will grow faster than the
state average for all occupations, growth led by
increases in the demand for workers with an
associate’s degree.
Georgia Agribusiness Survey 2008
Slide # 41
Summary - Continued
■ Employers’ recruiting efforts not limited to graduates
from the USG or the state of Georgia, confirming the
existence of inter-state labor mobility.
■ Beyond the technical knowledge, employers need
workers who can think, problem solve, communicate,
provide quality customer service, and take initiative.
■ Efforts needed to “bridge the gap between
academics and the real world, preferably by building
partnerships with industry” (quote from a survey participant)
Georgia Agribusiness Survey 2008
Slide #42