Large size of dairy industry means good opportunities for dairy processing operators
Opportunities for dairy processing operators are good because the dairy industry is large and growing, with dairy products being New Zealand’s largest export earner. According to a New Zealand Institute of Economic Research report, 13,000 people worked in dairy processing in New Zealand in 2017.
Primary ITO estimates that about 500 dairy processing operator job vacancies come up each year.
According to the Census, 3,078 dairy processing operators worked in New Zealand in 2018.
Range of ways to increase chances of entering dairy processing operation
You can increase your chances of getting an entry-level dairy processing operator role if you:
- have previous experience or qualifications in science, food hygiene, food technology or engineering
- have technical ability
- have worked as part of a team
- have problem-solving, project management or leadership experience.
Fonterra the main employer of dairy processing operators
Fonterra is the largest employer of dairy processing operators and has 26 processing centres in New Zealand. It also employs dairy processing operators at its overseas factories in countries such as Australia, China and the United States.
Other employers of dairy processing operators include:
- The Dairy Goat Co-operative
- Danone
- Goodman Fielder
- Oceania Dairy
- Open Country Dairies
- Synlait
- Tatua Co-operative Dairy Company
- Westland Co-operative Dairy Company
- Yashili New Zealand.
Some dairy processing operators work at smaller boutique factories making cheeses or ice cream, and sell their products to niche markets.
