How Young People Can Build Strong Careers in a Changing Farming Sector

A Clear Look at the Opportunities and Realities

Farming has always relied on younger workers. Many of the most physically demanding and fast-paced tasks on UK farms are carried out by people in their teens and twenties. Yet far fewer young people are choosing farming as a long term career. At the same time, farms across the country are finding it harder to recruit and retain the staff they need.

This article looks at what farming really offers young people. It covers the opportunities, the pressures and the skills that are becoming increasingly valuable for those thinking about joining the industry.

Younger workers are essential but still underrepresented

The age profile of UK farming shows a clear imbalance. According to the UK Farmer Opinion Tracker:

· Fewer than 11 percent of farmers are under 30

· Almost 30 percent are 65 or older

· 23 percent of farm workers are under 25

Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/farmer-opinion-tracker-for-england-april-2025

This means younger people are heavily involved in day to day operations, but they are much less represented in management or ownership roles.

The overall agricultural workforce also continues to shrink. Defra’s latest data shows a 2 percent fall in 2024, taking the number of workers on commercial holdings to around 453,000.

Labour shortages create genuine opportunities for new entrants

The labour pressure in farming is well documented. In a major 2025 survey of more than 1,900 British dairy farmers, researchers found that:

· 84 percent are struggling to recruit staff

· Almost half say it has become harder to retain the staff they already have

· 13 percent of dairy farmers say they may leave the sector within a year if labour availability continues to fall

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/aug/13/dairy-farmers-worker-shortage-threatening-uk-food-security

This shortage is not limited to dairy. The NFU has stated that the wider farming labour outlook remains tight due to limited access to seasonal workers and a lack of specialised skills.

For young people, this translates into straightforward opportunity. Farms are actively looking for workers who are reliable, practical and willing to learn, and increasingly they want people who bring technical or environmental skills that older farmers may not have needed in the past.

The financial picture is challenging but adaptable young workers can still succeed

Farming is not an easy financial environment at the moment. Defra reports that Total Income from Farming fell by almost 10 percent in 2023 to 7.2 billion pounds.

Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/agriculture-in-the-united-kingdom-2023

A recent Farmdex report for McCain adds that:

· Around one third of UK farmers made no profit or made a loss in the last financial year

· Only 14 percent achieved profit margins of 10 percent or more

For young entrants, this means transparency matters. Farming is a career that requires commitment and realism. However, it also offers increasing avenues for diversification, from environmental land management payments to direct to consumer sales, on farm experiences, renewable energy, agritech roles and estate management.

Safety and wellbeing are important considerations

Farming continues to be the most dangerous major industry in the UK. Health and Safety Executive statistics show:

· A fatal injury rate of around 8 deaths per 100,000 workers

· Agriculture accounts for nearly 20 percent of workplace deaths

Source: https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/industry/agriculture.pdf

Mental health is also a concern. A Farm Safety Foundation survey found that 94 percent of young farmers believe poor mental health is one of the biggest hidden issues in the industry.

New routes into farming are growing

Examples include:

The skills that matter most include precision agriculture, machinery operation, environmental land management, livestock management with technology, business management and engineering.

So is farming still a good career for young people?

It can be, provided they understand both the opportunities and the realities. There is genuine demand for young workers. There are more training routes than ever before. Technology and environmental responsibility are reshaping the sector. The pressures are real but so are the pathways to progression.

To start your career in farming, do not hesitate to reach out to our team or view our available vacancies here.