Food science is a rapidly growing industry, but before you decide to take a few classes in this field or earn your degree, you need to look at the future employment outlook for the food science industry. This refers to how quickly jobs in this field will increase or decrease. Looking at the outlook gives you a good idea as to how easily you can find a job and the odds of finding other jobs in the food science field.
Types of Food Science Jobs
Jobs in the field science industry range from positions working for publishers and television networks to jobs working for manufacturers and farms. Food science technicians often work in the agricultural or manufacturing sectors. They are the ones who help companies and organizations grow better food and create better ingredients. Your degree in food science may qualify you to work as a recipe developer for a book publisher or a TV network, but you may work on product development for larger corporations too.
Resources:
- Food Science Degrees
- Agriculture Colleges
- Sustainable Agriculture Degrees
- Agriculture Degree Online
- Food/Nutrition Degrees
- Culinary Arts Degrees
Working in the Industry
The duties that you perform on the job depend on the job you accept. A food science technician might take soil samples from multiple farms across the country and analyze those samples to determine which farm will grow the best food. If you work in product development, you’ll look at how easily consumers can use packaged foods and what they can do with those foods. You might create recipes and ideas for transforming boxed or packaged meals into different dishes. There are also food science jobs open within the state and federal government. These positions often require that workers inspect restaurants and collect samples from restaurants when customers get sick.
Employment Outlook
Looking at the employment outlook for the food science industry is one of the best ways to get an idea of what the future holds for you. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment outlook for agricultural and food science technicians is similar to the outlook reported across other fields. It found that this field will grow by 5%, which is the average rate of growth for all fields. Though there were around 33,000 people working in this field in 2014, the BLS believes that the field will add 1,600 by 2024. Other jobs in food science will likely grow at a similar rate.
Factors That Determine Future Growth
While you can look at the future outlook for the industry, keep in mind that this is just an estimate. Certain factors can increase or reduce the number of jobs that are available when you graduate. Food science jobs may decrease as companies go out of business and as major corporations absorb smaller companies and let workers go. The field may increase due to new forms of technology and new methods that require more research. Your likelihood of finding a job may also depend on where you live. Major agricultural and manufacturing cities have a higher need for food science experts than smaller cities do.
As a food science major, you may have the chance to take a class that shows you some of the top jobs in the field. Even if you have an idea of what you want to do with your degree, it’s important to look at the employment outlook for the food science industry before you graduate.