More scientists, engineers, technicians, and related specialists are being employed each year in the U.S. food, agricultural, and natural resource system. However, slightly more than enough qualified graduates are expected during the next five years. This is because numbers of newly qualified graduates are expected to grow more rapidly than expansion of new employment openings.   

 Average annual openings for scientists, engineers, and related specialsts in the U.S. food, agricultural and natural resource system are projected at 18,538 during 2000-2005.  This compares to an expected 18,878 qualified graduates each year. 

 The strongest employment opportunities are anticipated for food scientists, food process engineers, plant and animal geneticists, water quality specialists, turf scientists, horticultural scientists, plant and animal inspectors, and food and agricultural waste management specialists. 

 More than enough qualified graduates are projected in molecular biology, animal nutrition, entomology, agricultural economics, wildlife science, veterinary medicine general practices, and weed science. 

 Engineering positions will account for some 36 percent of the projected new opportunities in this employment cluster. Other primary occupations are life and physical scientists, 18 percent; veterinarians and veterinary inspectors, 14 percent; technicians and technologists, 28 percent; and landscape architects, four percent.

In this employment cluster the vast majority of graduates are coming from the agricultural, natural resources and veterinary medicine fields.  In fact the margin is about 4 to 1. 

In summary, the matchup of graduates to job market demands is close with only a slight edge in graduates.