Farm worker salaries rose an average 14% in two years - survey

Published date11 May 2022
A report commissioned by Rabobank and Federated Farmers found salaries for farm workers have gone up by a weighted average of 14 percent over the last two years

The survey of 729 employers and farm businesses found the average salary for farm workers was sitting just below $64,000.

Since 2020 salaries in the dairy sector have increase an average of 15 percent, while sheep and beef workers got an average raise of 14 percent.

Rabobank chief executive Todd Charteris said the border closure had put more pressure on farm managers to attract and maintain good staff.

"Farm owners have found it increasingly difficult to source skilled labour over recent seasons, and this is highlighted by the report, which found close to 70 percent of employers were now finding it harder to source good employees than 12 months ago," he said.

"COVID-19 border restrictions have, of course, contributed to this situation by limiting access to overseas workers, while New Zealand's low overall unemployment rate has also hindered eff orts to get more local workers to take on new jobs in rural locations." Charteris said it was clear the industry needed to do more to encourage young New Zealanders into agriculture jobs.

"It's not just all about salaries, it's about creating the right environment and that excitement, where people can be part of a really thriving industry that contributes to the overall success of the country.

"We also need to think about how we continue to attract workers to the industry, and also to stay in the industry and continue to be given opportunities to improve their skills, to go up through the job, grades and those type of things, which I think we need to continue to work at." Federated Farmers president Andrew Hoggard said competitive wages were not enough to attract some workers.

"The challenge, of course, is the remoteness, the lack of...

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