New project to address regional agricultural workforce pressures

AgriFutures Australia, in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, has launched a new project aimed at strengthening Australia’s regional agricultural workforce.

The Strategic Analysis of Regional Workforce Pressures in Australian Agriculture project will examine labour and skills challenges across five key regions, including the Riverina, Wide Bay, Murray–Darling and Darling Downs.

AgriFutures says the project will gather insights through surveys and stakeholder interviews, before bringing government and industry together to better understand workforce pressures and opportunities.

General Manager of Rural Futures, Simon Vincent, says the initiative is grounded in listening to local communities, with findings to inform future policy and workforce planning.

Surveys will remain open for six weeks, with a final report due in mid-2026.