25,990 individuals worked in Fruit across 2021, which has declined from a peak of around 27,000 over the previous two years. Two thirds of the workforce in the Fruit industries work within Apple and Pear Growing and Kiwifruit Growing. The Kiwifruit Growing industry has seen a steady increase in the number of workers since 2015, in particular the number of employees. Like other horticultural industries, the Fruit industries have a lower proportion of workers who are self-employed, or an employer compared to other industries across Muka Tangata. The notable exception is Olive Growing where most workers are self-employed or an employer.
The proportion of the workforce who are working as either employers or in self-employment is like other horticultural industries (Vegetables and Grapes and Wine) but is lower than some other Muka Tangata industries. Fruit covers a wide range of Fruit growing industries and workforces, which have different age, ethnic, region and gender profiles. Many of the workforces are highly concentrated in a single or small number of regions specific to the type of fruit.
Pacific peoples are a core part of the Fruit industries workforce, particularly for the Apple and Pear Growing and Berry Fruit Growing industries. Māori also make up one third of the Citrus Fruit Growing workforce and around one fifth of the Kiwifruit Growing and Other Fruit and Tree Nut Growing workforces. Berry fruit Growing and Stone Fruit growing have younger workforces whereas Citrus Fruit Growing and Olive growing have older workforces.
Fruit is highly seasonal. The peak seasons differ for different fruits, and this is reflected in the monthly employee counts. The peak counts of employees are in March for Apple and Pear Growing and Other Fruit and Tree nut Growing; January for Stone Fruit Growing; December for Berry Fruit Growing; and June for Citrus Fruit Growing. The number of employees in Kiwifruit Growing peaks twice annually around May and December.
It is difficult to observe any seasonal patterns in employees in the Oliver Growing industry due to the high percentage of the workforce that is self-employed.