Future Dairy Farm Employment - An Application of the Human Capability Framework

Dairy InSight research project, no. 10015/2003 sought to establish the future employment needs of the industry from a study of the future dairy farm labour market; to estimate future labour required and available; and to provide a full discussion of factors affecting those estimates. The report on which this paper is based was intended to provide a foundation document for any future studies of work and employment in dairy farming. The research strategy adopted was to use the Human Capability Framework (HCF) to analyse the future dairy farm labour market. The use of the HCF to analyse the future dairy farm employment situation was implemented by a systematic consideration of each of the elements influencing the supply side (Capacity) of the dairy farm labour market, the demand side (Opportunity), and the bringing of those both together (Matching), comprising the three main components of the HCF. Statistical resources were reviewed and found distinctly wanting. Other documentary sources were considered, expert opinions canvassed, and key sites and parties visited, to facilitate the industry wide analysis. All components of the analysis, together with practical recommendations, were put together in a single report, which ·was submitted to Dairy InSight, the industry good funder for the dairy industry. They are summarised in this paper