Virginia Agribusiness Council members' perceptions of basic skills for high school graduates

Abstract

A survey of the Virginia Agribusiness Council members was conducted to identify the basic and technical skills that are important for high school graduates to develop prior to seeking entry-level employment in the agricultural industry. Available entry-level positions were categorized and the mean years of experience at each position identified.

Skills were ranked in order of decreasing importance based on mean scores of the survey respondents. Overall, basic skills ranked higher than technical skills. The top five skills in order of importance were: a positive work attitude, self-motivation, the ability to follow directions, safe equipment operation, and working without supervision. Data were analyzed by firm category as utilized by the Virginia Agribusiness Council. Contrary to the skill ranking of the other firm categories, the producer category ranked the ability to follow directions as the most important skill.

The entry-level positions identified could be classified into the following categories: management, laborer, skilled operator, sales, and clerk/office employee. The most frequent entry-level jobs identified were in the laborer and management training classifications. The mean years of work experience for all positions, across all categories, was seven years.

Basic and technical skills are both essential elements for high school graduates seeking entry-level employment in agriculture. Neither area should be emphasized over the other in preparation for work at the high school level. A firm foundation of basic and technical skills needed in the agricultural industry is recommended for students’ successful transition from school to work.