Totaljobs has reported a record demand for agricultural jobs during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The jobs site says applications for farming jobs have increased by 83% in the past month, while searches for “fruit picker” jobs are up 338%.
Searches for “farm worker” are up 107%, while searches for “farm” and “agriculture” are up 130% and 66% respectively.
“The UK farming sector has historically suffered from a shortage of seasonal workers, which has only been further exacerbated by recent tightening of immigration rules and the unavailability of staff due to border closures,” said Steve Warnham from Totaljobs.
“However, under these extraordinary circumstances, we are seeing a growing trend of workers who have been temporarily displaced due to Covid-19 who are now looking for roles they can take on in other sectors to keep Britain moving.”
The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) recently launched a campaign to get Brits working on farms.
CLA president, Mark Bridgeman, welcomed the surge in interest for farming jobs and said: “We all know this is a deeply concerning period and we are all determined to do all we can to help the country through it.
“In order to do so, we must recognise that farmers’ supply of labour is in jeopardy.
“A shortage of 80,000 workers is something we have never seen before.
“This is why we are calling for a Land Army of workers to support farmers in feeding the country.”