jobfacts

Agricultural and fishing trades n.e.c.

SOC 2020 5119

Job holders in this unit group perform a variety of agricultural, practical conservation activities, and fishing tasks not elsewhere classified in minor group 511: Agricultural and related trades.

Also calledArboricultural officerTree officerForest officerBeekeeperApiaristApiculturistand 52 more titles
Typical full-time pay£30,1002025 Provisional
People in the job27,000across the UK
New adverts a month330↓ 7%on last year · 307th of 412

Pay

ONS · ASHE 2025
What full-time agricultural and fishing trades n.e.c. earn, 2025
£30,100 typical£24,200lowest 10%n/ptop 10%
n/p: top 10% not published by ONS
Show as table
Lowest 10% earn less than£24,200
Lowest 20% earn less than£25,800
25%Not published
Median£30,100
75%Not published
Top 20% earn more thanNot published
Top 10% earn more thanNot published
Typical pay by regionUK median £30,100
West Midlands!£33,000
South East!£30,100
North West!£29,600
Scotland!£29,500
East Midlands!£29,200
East of England!£27,800
South West!£26,700
Yorkshire and The Humber!£23,200
North EastNot published by ONS–
LondonNot published by ONS–
WalesNot published by ONS–
!Small sample: treat with caution
Show as table
UK median, £30,100
West Midlands£33,000 (small sample)
South East£30,100 (small sample)
North West£29,600 (small sample)
Scotland£29,500 (small sample)
East Midlands£29,200 (small sample)
East of England£27,800 (small sample)
South West£26,700 (small sample)
Yorkshire and The Humber£23,200 (small sample)
North EastNot published by ONS
LondonNot published by ONS
WalesNot published by ONS
Typical pay over 3 years
  • 2023 £26,600
  • 2024 £28,000
  • 2025 Provisional£30,100
↑ 13% since 2023Provisional figures are revised when ONS publishes the next year’s survey.

Jobs and demand

ONS · Textkernel adverts · DfE

About 330 jobs for agricultural and fishing trades n.e.c. are advertised each month.

New job adverts a month, Jan 2017 to Aug 2026
New advertsMonth not published by ONS (2 in all)
Show as table
Aug 2026331
Jul 2026362
Jun 2026Not published
May 2026372
Apr 2026329
Mar 2026Not published
Feb 2026342
Jan 2026364
Dec 2025163
Nov 2025341
Oct 2025358
Sept 2025337
Aug 2025309
Jul 2025370
Jun 2025365
May 2025483
Apr 2025399
Mar 2025427
Feb 2025431
Jan 2025351
Dec 2024203
Nov 2024252
Oct 2024413
Sept 2024337
Aug 2024379
Jul 2024387
Jun 2024403
May 2024433
Apr 2024451
Mar 2024403
Feb 2024419
Jan 2024508
Dec 2023358
Nov 2023278
Oct 2023311
Sept 2023340
Aug 2023365
Jul 2023345
Jun 2023488
May 2023612
Apr 2023371
Mar 2023465
Feb 2023435
Jan 2023536
Dec 2022355
Nov 2022422
Oct 2022459
Sept 2022392
Aug 2022487
Jul 2022507
Jun 2022500
May 2022549
Apr 2022514
Mar 2022500
Feb 2022479
Jan 2022638
Dec 2021414
Nov 2021439
Oct 2021416
Sept 2021490
Aug 2021408
Jul 2021473
Jun 2021404
May 2021436
Apr 2021361
Mar 2021481
Feb 2021404
Jan 2021642
Dec 2020274
Nov 2020247
Oct 2020338
Sept 2020285
Aug 2020291
Jul 2020303
Jun 2020200
May 2020135
Apr 2020142
Mar 2020252
Feb 2020345
Jan 2020311
Dec 2019209
Nov 2019241
Oct 2019267
Sept 2019248
Aug 2019282
Jul 2019287
Jun 2019279
May 2019297
Apr 2019210
Mar 2019259
Feb 2019212
Jan 2019313
Dec 2018140
Nov 2018226
Oct 2018215
Sept 2018227
Aug 2018233
Jul 2018193
Jun 2018214
May 2018192
Apr 2018179
Mar 2018227
Feb 2018219
Jan 2018203
Dec 2017134
Nov 2017223
Oct 2017190
Sept 2017252
Aug 2017223
Jul 2017191
Jun 2017224
May 2017246
Apr 2017254
Mar 2017292
Feb 2017218
Jan 2017203
Vacancies hard to fill because of skills
54%against 27% for all jobs
Broader groupFigure for agricultural and related trades, which includes agricultural and fishing trades n.e.c.. DfE Employer Skills Survey 2024.
Where the most jobs are advertisedadverts a quarter
London94
Birmingham22
Nottingham19
West Northamptonshire19
Bristol, City of16
Manchester14
North Yorkshire12
Leeds12
Reading12
Cheshire East11
London is published as one area. Averages leave out quarters ONS withheld.
Where agricultural and fishing trades n.e.c. are most concentratedShare of local job adverts, compared with the UK.

Recruitment from abroad. 62 sponsored work visas were granted for this job from July 2025 to June 2026, most to people from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, ranking it 122nd of 313. Home Office

Who does it

ONS · Annual Population Survey · April 2025 to March 2026
WomenToo few in the survey to give a reliable figure
Age of agricultural and fishing trades n.e.c.
19%!
n/p
19%!
30%!
13%!
9.1%!
!Small sample: treat with cautionn/p: too few in the survey to publish
Show as table
16–2419% (small sample)
25–34Not published
35–4419% (small sample)
45–5430% (small sample)
55–6413% (small sample)
65+9.1% (small sample)
Highest qualification
Degree or equivalent!28%
Higher education below degree!4%
A levels or equivalent34%
GCSEs or equivalent!15%
Other qualifications!9.6%
No qualifications!5.8%
!Small sample: treat with caution
Show as table
Degree or equivalent28% (small sample)
Higher education below degree4% (small sample)
A levels or equivalent34%
GCSEs or equivalent15% (small sample)
Other qualifications9.6% (small sample)
No qualifications5.8% (small sample)

Main employers: landscape service activities (17%), marine fishing (12%), support services to forestry (9%), raising of other animals (8.8%).

How to get in

Hold a degree
28%
as their highest qualification
Most common qualification
A levels or equivalent
held by 34%
Apprenticeships
7
from level 2, including degree apprenticeships
Apprenticeships take
1 to 3 years
typically
T Levels
1
college courses for 16 to 19 year olds

Routes in

Arboricultural officer

You can get into this job through:

University

You could do a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in a subject like:

  • forestry
  • arboriculture
  • countryside management
  • forest management
  • woodland ecology and conservation
Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

College

You could take a course at an agricultural college to learn some of the skills and knowledge you need for this job.

Relevant courses include:

  • arboriculture
  • forestry and arboriculture
  • T Level in Agriculture, Land Management and Production
Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level

Apprenticeship

You could apply for a place on an apprenticeship to get into this career. These include:

  • Arborist Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship
  • Arboriculturist Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship
  • Professional Arboriculturist Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship

These apprenticeships take from 2 to 3 years to complete and are a mix of on-the-job training and some study.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

Other ways in

Work your way up

You could join an organisation, like a local authority or landscaping firm, as an assistant arboricultural officer. You'll need some qualifications or experience, for example as a tree surgeon or groundworker.

Volunteering

You may find it useful when looking for jobs to have some relevant practical experience. You can find volunteering opportunities with conservation bodies like:

  • Trees for Cities
  • The Tree Council
  • the Woodland Trust
Apply directly

You could apply directly to become an arboricultural officer.

You'll usually need:

  • experience of working in a related job, like an arboricultural assistant, tree surgeon, ecologist or landscape architect
  • a nationally recognised arboricultural qualification like the Level 4 Certificate in Arboriculture
Other routes

If you have a degree in a relevant subject, you can apply for a graduate training scheme place with Forestry England. Check with them for application dates.

Registration and professional bodies

Professional and industry bodies

You could join the Institute of Chartered Foresters for professional development.

Further information

You can find out more about working in arboriculture from:

  • The Arboricultural Association
  • Royal Forestry Society
  • Green Jobs for Nature

Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for arboricultural officer. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Beekeeper

You can get into this job through:

College

You may be able to do a short introductory course, which would teach you some of the basic skills and knowledge you need to get into beekeeping.

Entry requirements

There are no set entry requirements for this route.

Other routes

You can keep bees as a hobby and learn how to successfully set up and manage healthy colonies of honeybees.

You can also join a beekeeping group where you can attend 'taster days' to get an introduction to beekeeping and to learn from experienced beekeepers.

You can find out more about becoming a beekeeper through The British Beekeepers Association and the National Bee Unit.

Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for beekeeper. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Countryside ranger

You can get into this job through:

University

You could take a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree before applying for a countryside ranger job.

Relevant courses include:

  • environmental studies
  • rural resource management
  • countryside management
  • conservation
Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

College

You may be able to get into this job after doing a course at an agricultural or land based college.

Courses include:

  • environmental and conservation skills
  • countryside management
  • T Level in Agriculture, Land Management and Production
Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level

Apprenticeship

You could apply to do an apprenticeship, for example:

  • Countryside Worker Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship
  • Forest Craftsperson Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
  • Countryside Ranger Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship

These take between 1 and 3 years to complete.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

Other ways in

Volunteering

You could get useful experience by volunteering through:

  • National Parks UK
  • The Wildlife Trusts
  • The Conservation Volunteers
  • Countryside Jobs Service

This may give you an advantage when looking for work.

Apply directly

You could apply for a position as an assistant ranger in a national park or with an organisation like the National Trust. Once working, you may be offered the opportunity to do further training to become a ranger.

You'll be expected to have some paid or voluntary experience of working in the countryside or conservation, and a love of working outdoors.

Registration and professional bodies

Career tips

A first aid qualification may help when applying for jobs.

Professional and industry bodies

You could join the Countryside Management Association for professional development training and to build up your contacts.

Further information

You can find more details about working in the countryside from The National Trust and Green Jobs for Nature.

Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for countryside ranger. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Gamekeeper

You can get into this job through:

College

You could take a course at an agricultural college which would teach you some of the skills and knowledge you'll need to become a gamekeeper.

Courses include:

  • countryside management
  • countryside and environment
  • land and wildlife management
Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

Apprenticeship

You could apply to do an Underkeeper Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship.

This takes up to 2 years to complete.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship

Other ways in

Work your way up

You might be able to start as an assistant gamekeeper or underkeeper. You could then work your way up to become a gamekeeper, as you gain more experience and learn on the job.

Volunteering

It can be useful to get some volunteering experience, working in the countryside or on an estate.

You can find out about volunteering and work experience opportunities from:

  • The Conservation Volunteers
  • National Trust
  • National Parks UK

What you’ll need

  • have a full driving licence

You'll need a firearms or shotgun certificate for some jobs.

Registration and professional bodies

Career tips

Some jobs include accommodation and work vehicle as part of the employment package.

Further information

You can find out more about becoming a gamekeeper from the National Gamekeepers' Organisation and Lantra.

Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for gamekeeper. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Tree surgeon

You can get into this job through:

University

You can study for a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in:

  • forestry
  • arboriculture
  • countryside management
  • forest management
  • woodland ecology and conservation
Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

College

You could do a college course to get some of the skills and knowledge you need as a tree surgeon.

Relevant subjects include:

  • arboriculture
  • forestry and arboriculture
  • T Level in Agriculture, Land Management and Production
Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

Apprenticeship

You could begin your career by doing an apprenticeship.

For example:

  • Arborist Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship
  • Forest Craftsperson Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship

These usually take a minimum of 2 years to complete and combine on-the-job training with learning off site

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

Other ways in

Work your way up

You may be able to start as a forest labourer or groundworker, helping a qualified tree surgeon. You could then complete further training on the job in the use of chainsaws, ropes, ladders and harnesses.

These types of courses are offered by private training providers and further education colleges.

Volunteering

You might find it useful to get some experience of tree work before applying for jobs.

You can contact organisations like The Tree Council, Forestry England and the Woodland Trust about volunteering opportunities.

What you’ll need

  • be able to cope with working at height
  • have a Certificate of Competence, if you carry out hazardous tasks using a chainsaw

You may need a driving licence and access to a vehicle to travel to jobs.

Registration and professional bodies

Professional and industry bodies

You can join the The Arboricultural Association for professional recognition, training opportunities and to make industry contacts.

Further information

You can find more details about working with trees through The Arboricultural Association and the Royal Forestry Society.

Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for tree surgeon. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Apprenticeships

7 for this job
Level 2About 18 months

Arborist

You gain
Level 3 award or training and assessment in emergency first aid at work minimum 1 day…; City and Guilds Level 2 award in safe use of a manually fed wood chipper
Details on Skills England
Level 2About 18 months

Fisher

You gain
Complete basic training approved by any Maritime Administration which is signatory to…; 1 day Seafish Fishermen’s basic firefighting and prevention or 2 day STCW Fire Fighting…
Leads to
An apprentice successfully completing the end-point assessment would be eligible to apply
Employers may ask for
Employers will set their own entry requirements depending on boat size, fishery, fishing method and operation. Typically, employers may require the individual…
Details on Skills England
Level 2About 18 months

Underkeeper

You gain
• Level 2 Award in Wild Game Meat Hygiene or the Game Meat Hygiene Training Course…; • Level 2 award in Safe Use of Pesticides. On completion of the pesticides foundation…
Details on Skills England
Level 4About 2½ years

Arboriculturist

Leads to
Arboricultural Association
Employers may ask for
There are no statutory entry requirements for the arboriculturist apprenticeship and no entry requirements have been defined to keep this flexible for…
Details on Skills England
Level 4About 2 years

Countryside ranger

You gain
Level 3 award or training and assessment in emergency first aid at work minimum 1 day…; Award in the Safe Use of Brushcutters and Trimmers and (or) the following, employer…
Leads to
Countryside Management Association
Details on Skills England
Level 6About 3 yearsDegree

Professional arboriculturist

You gain
BSc Arboriculture (integrated degree)
Leads to
Institute of Chartered Foresters
Details on Skills England

© Skills England 2025. This information is licensed under the Open Government Licence https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Other qualifications

QualificationTypeLevel
Agriculture, Land Management and ProductionT Level3
FdSc Wildlife, Ecology and Conservation ManagementHigher technical5
Foundation Degree in Science Arboriculture and Tree ManagementHigher technical5
Pearson BTEC Level 5 Higher National Diploma in Animal Conservation and Countryside ManagementHigher technical5

The work

ONS · ESCO · O*NET

Typical tasks

  • nets river fish and feeds and maintains them in spawning pens, cultivates and harvests oysters, mussels and clams on natural and artificial beds, treats water and diseased fish, and empties and cleans outdoor tanks
  • navigates and maintains shipping vessels, assists with the shooting, hauling and repairing of fishing nets, prepares, lays and empties baited pots, and guts, sorts and stows fish
  • establishes and maintains forest nurseries, forestry and woodland, and diagnoses and treats diseased trees
  • patrols a designated area of the countryside to monitor damage, erosion, access to rights of way and the state of footpaths and other facilities, and carries out remedial maintenance work as necessary
  • monitors and maintains the level of wildfowl on public and private estates
  • manages areas of the countryside and the wider environment, carries out practical conservation activities and assists in promoting awareness of the natural environment

Skills

  • analyse environmental data
  • develop environmental policy
  • assess environmental impact
  • ensure compliance with environmental legislation
  • write work-related reports
  • carry out environmental audits
  • promote environmental awareness
  • advise on nature conservation
  • carry out training in environmental matters
  • conduct environmental site assessments
  • conduct environmental surveys
  • conserve natural resources
  • educate people about nature
  • implement environmental protection measures

Knowledge

  • environmental legislation
  • biology
  • ecology
  • environmental policy
  • chemistry
  • pollution prevention
  • botany
  • forest ecology

Suits people who like

  • Working with ideas and solving problems
  • Practical, hands-on work

Outlook

DfE · Skills Imperative 2035
Broader groupThese projections are for skilled agricultural and related trades, a group of 5 jobs that includes agricultural and fishing trades n.e.c..
Change in jobs, 2020 to 2035↑ 13%about 47,000 more jobs
Workers needed by 2035266,000including people replacing those who retire or leave

Sources

Pay
ONS, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, 2025 provisional
People in the job, who does it
ONS, Annual Population Survey, April 2025 to March 2026
Job adverts
ONS, online job adverts (Textkernel), to Aug 2026
Demand, skill shortages
Department for Education and Skills England, Occupations in demand and the Employer Skills Survey
Outlook
The Skills Imperative 2035 (2024), NFER/Nuffield/DfE/IER/CE
Routes in
National Careers Service job profiles
Apprenticeships, qualifications
Skills England occupational maps
Skills, interests
ESCO classification of the European Commission; O*NET data, U.S. Department of Labor (CC BY 4.0, modified)
Visas
Home Office, immigration system statistics

Figures as of 10 October 2026.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: Office for National Statistics licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Occupations in demand and the Employer Skills Survey: Department for Education and Skills England. Immigration system statistics: Home Office. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

© Skills England 2025. This information is licensed under the Open Government Licence https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Source: The Skills Imperative 2035 (2024), NFER/Nuffield/DfE/IER/CE.

This service uses the ESCO classification of the European Commission.

This service includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This service has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. CC BY 4.0 licence.

jobfacts is independent. It is not part of, affiliated with or endorsed by the Office for National Statistics, the Department for Education, Skills England, the National Careers Service, the Home Office, the European Commission or the U.S. Department of Labor.