Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 July 2022
892. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of persons that are currently employed directly or indirectly in the agri-food sector; the extent to which it is expected to ensure the future of the industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39303/22]
View answerThe Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) continually monitors the levels of employment in the agriculture and wider agri-food sector. Employment figures are primarily sourced from the Central Statistics Office's (CSO) quarterly Labour Force Survey.
The agri-food sector is an essential part of the economic and social fabric of Ireland, especially in rural and coastal areas. Irish food is produced by farmers, fishers and agri-food companies around the country and this locally produced food is exported to over 180 countries around the world.
Employment in the Agri-food sector accounted for 170,400 people, representing 7.1% of the total workforce in Ireland in 2021. The average numbers employed during 2021 in agriculture, forestry and fishing were 107,000, with 49,650 employed in the manufacture of food products, 7,750 employed in the manufacture of beverages and about 6,000 employed in the wood and wood-processing sector.
It should be noted that the Labour Force Survey is based on the main employment a person reports in the survey. Where a part-time farmer reports their off-farm job as their main employment, they will not be recorded as working in primary agriculture. Teagasc in their annual National Farm Survey outline that up to 34% of farm holders have off-farm employment while 54% of farm holders and/or their spouse has an off farm employment.
It is also important to note that while the overall level of employment from these sectors is 7.1% of total employment nationwide, the proportion of employment outside Dublin is much greater. For example, CSO data shows that in the border region the agri-food sector employment accounted for 14.2% of overall employment and accounted for over 12% in the south-east region.
