Professional managers’ interest in jobs in agriculture up four-fold

The number of educated specialists who have gathered experience abroad and wish to apply their knowledge in Lithuanian agriculture has grown four-fold over six months. The number of young specialists willing to work in rural areas has risen three-fold. This has turned out after selection of candidates for heads and specialists of different divisions conducted by Agrowill Group, the largest agricultural investment and development company in the Baltic states. 
According to Jolanta Bastienė, Director of the Production Department of Agrowill Group that controls 15 agricultural companies in Lithuania and one in Estonia, at least 20–30 applications of professional candidates for each position were received during the selection of candidates for managers and specialists. The figure shows a four-fold increase compared to the same selection performed some six months ago. According to Bastienė, the growing willingness of professional managers to apply their knowledge in agriculture is determined by several factors: changed market conditions, growing confidence in the future of agriculture as well as an ambitious operating strategy and innovations of Agrowill Group. 
“With Lithuania and the world undergoing a period of economic changes, the attitude towards the attractiveness of different business sectors is changing as well,” Bastienė said. In her words, a slowdown in the fast growth of services and industrial sectors has highlighted the potential of agriculture – after all, the demand for foodstuffs remains stable irrespective of general economic tendencies. In the opinion of the representative of Agrowill Group, the growing interest in jobs in agriculture has also been determined by the experience acquired by Lithuanians in foreign farms.   “The highest number of applications comes from Lithuanians who have worked in Denmark, the Netherlands and Germany. They not only believe in the future of agriculture, but also know how to organise these activities in an effective and profitable manner,” Bastienė said. 
According to the representative of Agrowill Group, after the company undertook active introduction of Western milk production and crop production management methods, qualification requirements for candidates have increased considerably. It is no longer enough to have knowledge of crop production or milk production technology only. Candidates must also know foreign languages, have good computer skills and knowledge of modern management,” Bastienė said. In her words, the need for specialists who know foreign languages has increased even more after experienced experts from the Netherlands and Denmark were appointed in charge of the main areas of activity of Agrowill Group. Having initiated an efficiency improvement programme a few weeks ago, using the experience of foreign specialists, Agrowill Group expects to boost the efficiency of crop production by up to 35% and that of dairy farms by up to 40%. “We believe that the increased interest in work at Agrowill Group has been influenced by an opportunity to work under the leadership of foreign experts and a wish to participate in the implementation of ambitious plans,” Bastienė said. 

According to the company’s representative, there are clear new tendencies among candidates looking for a job: several married couples who know the specificity of work in agriculture and are determined to change their place of residence have applied for vacancies simultaneously. Some changes have also been observed in terms of the age of those willing to work in agriculture: the candidates are getting younger. “Some six months ago, specialists aged 45–55 years accounted for the bulk of those willing to work in agriculture. The number of young specialists aged 26–30 who apply for jobs in rural areas has now increased three-fold,” Bastienė said. 

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