Opportunities for greater diversity in the cotton workforce

Australia’s diverse human capital is one of our greatest strengths. Research has found that gender, cultural and ethnic diversity strengthen a workforce’s capacity to develop knowledge and innovations, however there is limited research on workforce participation from under-represented groups in the cotton industry. The ‘Opportunities for greater diversity in the cotton workforce’ project will investigate how this topic is addressed and valued in the wider agricultural sector and specifically the cotton industry, to make recommendations on areas to prioritise for future development. The five-phase project will consist of; 1. A desktop review to examine how diversity is addressed in agriculture, both in Australia and overseas; 2. Interviews with potential workforce entrants from diverse backgrounds (e.g. women, migrants, indigenous people) to identify perceptions and barriers to employment in the cotton industry; 3. Focus groups with employers including corporate farms to determine the value placed on diversity and strategies utilised to increase workforce participation by underrepresented populations; 4. The inclusion of three questions in the Grower Practice Survey to determine the current levels of diversity across the workforce; and 5. A final report which makes recommendations to the cotton and wider agricultural industry as to the priority areas to address diversity and inclusion in the workforce. This scoping study will assist the cotton industry to increase the diversity of the workforce which brings the benefits of a range of perspectives and experiences to allow the sector to meet current and future challenges. This project is an important first step in ensuring the cotton industry is prepared to implement recommendations from the National Agricultural Workforce Strategy with an evidence-base. Refer to FRP for full summary.