Shortage of skilled food technologists
Demand for food technologists is expected to continue as the number of positions will grow 3% a year until 2026, according to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. Demand is strongest for qualified food technologists with three to seven years' experience.
However, the number of skilled, qualified food technologists is insufficient to meet demand. As a result, food technologist appears on Immigration New Zealand’s long-term skill shortage list. This means the Government is actively encouraging skilled food technologists from overseas to work in New Zealand.
According to the Census, 1068 food technologists worked in New Zealand in 2018.
Strong prospects for graduates with process engineering knowledge and industry experience
Some large food technology companies may have graduate recruitment programmes. Employers prefer graduates with broader qualifications that include some process engineering, rather than just food science.
A postgraduate diploma can improve your chances of getting work if it includes an applied project for a food manufacturing company and getting hands-on industry experience.
Types of employers varied
Most food technologists work for:
- food manufacturing companies such as dairy processing companies, breweries, food and vegetable processing companies, cereal manufacturers and commercial bakeries
- private food research institutes such as Fonterra Research and Development Centre
- Crown research institutes such as AgResearch and Plant & Food Research
- universities.