A recent study by Purdue University economists indicated that jobs within agriculture are expected to rise rapidly within the next five years. The results of this study were also confirmed by a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) survey, which came to the same conclusion.

A recent employment outlook by Purdue and USDA estimates 58,000 jobs involving food, agriculture, renewable natural resources and the environment will open up within the next five years, according to Southwest Farm Press.

There’s a shortage of agricultural graduates available to fill these jobs.

The results of the Purdue study indicated that 60 percent of the job openings within the industry are expected to be filled by agricultural graduates. The remaining will be filled with graduates of other areas such as biology or business administration.

Almost half of the job opportunities in agriculture will be in management and business, according to the Purdue study.

Science, technology, engineering and mathematics will fill another 27 percent. And the remaining will be filled with 15 percent in foods and biomaterial production and 12 percent in education, communication and government services.

“I became more aware in my college years that the agriculture industry as a whole simply isn’t producing the number of graduates that we need to fill the jobs that need to be filled in the years ahead,” Matthew Pace, a recent graduate who majored in Agricultural and Applied Economics, reported to authors of the employment outlook survey.

Pace said that agricultural-related jobs have received a negative stigma because of lack of understanding. But through education and engaging more with people, he thinks that can be changed.

USDA pointed out by 2050 the population will increase greatly, and there will be more people to feed. The world is depending on agriculture in order to feed the growing population, leading to more jobs within agriculture.

The survey and university study indicate that with a growing population, college graduates with expertise in agricultural-related areas are essential to U.S. food security, sustainable energy and environmental quality, according to the USDA.

“As a whole, it’s really promising for an ag major right now,” Pace said. “I feel really good about the future of the agriculture industry. I think one of the things that is going to help propel the success of the agriculture industry is a foundation of knowledge and education for the general public.”

Pace said that students studying agriculture have a lot to look forward to as they pursue their interests.