AgCareers.com | Swine Industry Talent Survey

The pork industry has always faced challenges in the area of recruiting talent. Over the past 20 years, we have seen a great deal of change within the industry: the expansion of larger and more efficient herds, fewer independent producers, the expansion of contract production, new challenges with herd health, etc. As an industry, we must realize the recruiting challenges that lie ahead-the fact that there are 77 million Baby Boomers beginning to seriously consider retirement and there are only 44 million generation X'ers means there is going to be a war on talent. Young and experienced professionals (including Hispanics) are going to have a variety of career options!

The purpose of this survey is to raise awareness to this issue that is in the horizon. Please assist your industry by taking 10 minutes to complete this survey. By completing the survey, you will become eligible to win 1 of 3 I-pods given away immediately following the World Pork Expo. The results of the survey will be presented at the 2006 World Pork Expo at the Marketing Information Center during Talent Challenges Within the Swine Industry ~ Breaking Old Paradigms, Friday, June 9th at 3:00 pm.

PigCHAMP
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M&F Trading
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Hog Slat
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Seaboard Foods
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Name:
Address:
City:
State / Province:
Zip / Postal Code:
E-Mail Address:

As an employer, what are you doing to recruit young and experienced professionals to rural areas?

	Nothing
	Increasing relocation packages
	Highlighting the advantages of rural living
	Focusing on people who want to live in rural America
	Offering increased compensation

As an employer, how well do you feel universities are promoting career opportunities in the swine industry?

	Very well
	OK
	Not well at all

As an employer, you should be aware of the increased Hispanic population, not only within our country but within the swine industry workforce. Considering this, what is your organization doing to prepare Hispanic leadership?

	Nothing yet
	We do not see a need
	Investing in leadership training for our existing Hispanic employees
	Recruiting at colleges and universities with high Hispanic student populations
	We do not plan to focus on diversity talent

As an industry professional, how do you feel high school and college students view career opportunities in the swine industry?

	As production based only
	Not appealing - no opportunities for growth
	Good with many opportunities
	Good place to start
	An easy place to get a job

Where do you feel industry employers need to focus - considering the "war on talent" that may intensify in the next 2 years?

	Invest in more Hispanic recruitment/training
	Investigate other parts of the world such as Eastern Europe, Asia for alternative sources of labor
	Invest in improving the image of our industry and its associated career opportunities
	Explore more technology that yields less human labor

As an industry, we need to consider how we are going to retain young and experienced professionals within our industry - what are some ways you would suggest? Rate the following: where 1 is most important

	Offer more stock options/ownership
	Raise wages
	Offer improved benefits - such as time off, better health insurance, improved retirement plans, education assistance opportunities etc.
	Offer more training and development opportunities for employees
	Focus on enhancing the culture of the working environment
	Nothing
	Other

As an industry, we need to also consider how we are going to retain general farm labor - what are some ways you would suggest? Rate the following: where 1 is most important

	Offer more stock options/ownership
	Raise wages
	Offer improved benefits - such as time off, better health insurance, improved retirement plans, education assistance opportunities etc.
	Offer more training and development opportunities for employees
	Focus on enhancing the culture of the working environment
	Nothing---just accept the fact that staff turnover at farm level is always going to be high
	Other

Take into consideration the above-mentioned recruiting efforts/factors; rate the following in order of the challenge it proposes to your organization. With 1 being the most challenging and 6 being the least challenging.

	Recruit young and experienced professionals to rural areas.
	Universities promoting career opportunities in the swine industry
	Preparing for Hispanic leadership
	High school and college student views of career opportunities in the swine industry
	Retaining young and experienced professionals within our industry
	Retaining general farm labor

Please assist us with some demographics regarding your experience in the industry:

What is your position within the industry?