Friday, March 29, 2024

Dairy, just the job

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A sharp rise in unemployment is on the horizon because of covid-19 but the dairy sector will offer some reprieve. 
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DairyNZ is encouraging people to consider work on dairy farms in a new Go Dairy campaign that offers entry-level training to help the transition to farming.

While the Go Dairy career-changers campaign, supported by Federated Farmers, aims to create awareness of the job opportunities there is a big emphasis on ensuring new staff understand what is involved in farm life.

“We want a win-win situation for new dairy farming employees to be happy and fulfilled in their new lifestyle and jobs and for farm employers to have great talent working for them,” DairyNZ chief executive Dr Tim Mackle says.

“For the most part, we’re anticipating interested people will be from the regions where there are big job losses in tourism and hospitality and where there is dairying close by.

“Even though they are new to farming many people already have skills that are readily transferrable and valued on dairy farms.” 

Statistics show of the 48,000 people employed in the dairy sector, 34,000 are working on dairy farms with the rest in processing and support operations.

Mackle says opening the door to new people will also help fill the gap this season that farm employers have in the recent years of low unemployment filled with migrants, who are now shut out by border closures.

Grant and Kate McCallum milk 580 cows in Northland and recently hired two new people. They note there is already a change in the employment market.

“We usually get 15 to 20 applicants for a job with only four or five being New Zealanders and the rest from overseas but this round we had over 40 apply and almost all were Kiwis,” McCallum says.

He noted many have dairying experience and there are a lot of people returning to the sector.

“They were very conscious that the job market was going to get tough because of what was happening with shutdown and businesses struggling.

“They realised they were going to have to be competitive to get a job and recognise dairying offers a reliable income.

“We need the staff to run the business and we’ve got to make it work economically. Staff costs are the last thing you cut.

“Dairy is going to be a good place to come for those who have lost jobs.”

McCallum can see great opportunities for employers to take advantage of the changing employment market and sell dairy as a career. And he encourages jobseekers to get help and take time to put a CV together and include referees. 

“A CV helps us understand people’s experience and adding referees makes our job as employers easier.”

He expects people to turn up to interviews with a good attitude and professional manner and if they lack experience to be keen and willing to learn.

“It’s worth finding out about training that is available so you can discuss it at the interview. Show us you are interested.”

DairyNZ is finalising the details of the Go Dairy farm-ready course for career changers who are serious about farming. The course will provide information about life and work on a farm and teach the basics of animal handling and vehicle safety. 

Once on a farm new workers will be supported by the farm employer and colleagues. As many farm staff already do, they can choose to go on to learn more and obtain formal qualifications through courses.

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