Support Services is a complex industry grouping of people in the workforce who support the outputs of the food and fibre sector and other wider sectors. This includes four ANZSIC class codes: Hunting and Trapping; Landscape and Construction Services; Other Agricultural Product Wholesaling; Other Agriculture and Fishing Support Services.

These various industries that sit within Support Services can overlap with multiple parts of the food and fibre sector, with the most common industries being Nursery, Turf and Gardening; Arable; Sheep, Beef and Deer; Fruit; and Vegetables.

The workforce has seen a slight decline since 2019, but has high levels of seasonal variation (which affect how forecasts should be treated). MPI data for Support Services is not available. We have done our own forecasting, which shows a 4.5% workforce increase between 2023 and 2027. GDP is forecast to increase almost 11% between 2023 and 2027.

The workforce has a low level of formal qualifications. Based on those in the workforce where we have data on qualifications, 14% have no qualification and 12% have NCEA L1 or equivalent. This is in line with the benchmark across all Muka Tangata industries, with 1% more people having low level qualifications compared to the benchmark. The workforce has low new entrant retention rates and very low levels of industry tenure which drive a need for training of replacements. The sector has very strong reliance on those on RSE, temporary & work visas making the industry vulnerable to changes in immigration trends and policy shifts. If current training levels are only maintained, there will not be enough trained people to meet the skills demand from industry, and the gap will only get wider.

Feedback on our draft advice highlighted the following skills and occupation needs across Support Services:

  • Pest Control: There is an increased need for workers as pest populations increase (for example, mice rising relative to rats and rising populations as a result of recent natural disasters and changing environments and climate). New skills may also be necessary as pest control methods change to meet new threats (for example, changing use of chemical controls and technology). 
  • Technical skills: As farming systems have diversified and become more complex, external technical expertise to assist producers has become more important. 
  • Agrichemical application: Industries across both horticulture and agriculture have identified the need for skills to apply agrichemicals safely. Industry has indicated that this is a growth area. 
  • Landscape Construction: The Landscape construction industry has a need for more autonomous and managerial skills. 

See Qualifications table here.