The Agribusiness Talent Council is a collaborative of employers, educators, workforce development and economic development organizations working together to foster a thriving agribusiness sector in West Michigan. Together, we can attract and retain a skilled workforce while promoting the industry.

West Michigan’s agribusiness sector is a powerhouse, producing one-third of Michigan’s total agricultural sales and contributing over $13 billion to the regional economy. The food and agriculture system remains a vital source of employment, accounting for approximately 17.2 percent of the state’s total employment, with over 36,400 agribusiness jobs in West Michigan. This industry is comprised of five subsectors: food processing, which represents the largest share of agricultural employment, followed by farming, agricultural wholesale and retail, input supplies and regulation of agricultural marketing and commodities. The sector’s strength underscores its critical role in our state’s economy and employment landscape.

The Agribusiness Talent Council of West Michigan works to attract talent, promote the industry and provide training and resources to employers. We work with employers and community partners to encourage careers in agribusiness on four key strategies:

• PROMOTE THE INDUSTRY: We are focused on promoting agribusiness as a great career pathway for all ages.

• TRAIN: We connect businesses with resources to create your own skilled talent by upskilling your current workforce.

• RECRUIT & RETAIN TALENT: We create and join projects that pull new talent into agribusiness and keep existing talent long term.

• CONNECT TO RESOURCES: We create new and share existing beneficial resources for the agribusiness industry.