3 Workforce profile

Agriculture, forestry and fishing is Victoria’s fifteenth largest employing industry, with strong representation of VET qualified workers.

Employment

Employment by industry in 2025

  • 72,000 employed1
  • 1.9% Victorian employment share
  • 15th share rank.

Employment by industry subdivision, 2025

Industry subdivision

Number of workers

Agriculture

64,000

Agriculture, forestry and fishing support services

7,100

Forestry and logging

980

Aquaculture

10

Fishing, hunting and trapping

< 10

Workforce profile

Note: Percentages may not add up to exactly 100% due to rounding.

Age distribution in 2021

Age profile – industry

Age

Percentage of workers

15 to 24 years

9%

25 to 49 years

42%

50 years and over

49%

Age profile – all industries

Age

Percentage of workers

15 to 24 years

14%

25 to 49 years

57%

50 years and over

29%

Sex distribution² in 2021

Sex distribution – industry

Sex

Percentage of workers

Female

33%

Male

67%

Sex distribution – all industries

Sex

Percentage of workers

Female

49%

Male

51%

Highest level of education in 2021

Highest level of education – industry

Education

Percentage of workers

VET

34%

Higher education

17%

No post-school qualifications

50%

Highest level of education – all industries

Education

Percentage of workers

VET

30%

Higher education

41%

No post-school qualifications

29%

Workforce diversity

First Nations employment in 2021

Group

Percentage identifying as First Nations

Industry

0.8%

All industries

0.7%

Working age population

0.9%

Speaks a language other than English³ in 2021

Group

Percentage speaking a language other than English at home

Industry

15.2%

All industries

27.4%

Working age population

34.4%

Needs assistance with core activities⁴ in 2021

Group

Percentage needing assistance with core activities

Industry

1.6%

All industries

0.9%

Working age population

3.2%

Updated