COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio recently celebrated In-Demand Jobs Week, a statewide celebration of the jobs, industries and skills that are in-demand in the state.

In-demand jobs are those that pay a sustainable wage and offer a promising future based on the projected number of openings and growth. Ohio has in-demand jobs in more than 200 occupations across a wide range of industries.

Ohio State University Extension’s 4-H is doing its part in this effort to empower young people in all 88 counties with leadership, citizenship and life skills with its 50 4-H Career Cards.

Developed by the university’s College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CFAES), the 4-H Career Cards help connect youth with high-demand roles in Ohio’s growing ag sector. These tools are designed to align students’ interests with job opportunities in fields currently seeking skilled workers.

“4-H professionals in each county have access to a set of the Ag Career Cards to use in various ways to educate youth about agricultural careers,” said Leslie Cooksey, a 4-H Youth Development educator. “They can use them to help youth understand career options and build skills that employers value. Also, educators who already use the Real Money, Real World curriculum can easily incorporate these cards as youth choose a career and work through the financial literacy simulation.”

Each card features job descriptions, required education or training, expected salary ranges, and key skills. For example, the Agronomy and Crop Science card introduces crop scouts who help farmers protect crops from pests, while the Grain Elevator Manager card explains grain storage and shipping.

The 4-H Career Cards describe 50 careers that were identified by 17 different universities and prioritized by a team of agriculture professionals in Ohio. The collection represents a variety of careers in biotechnology, business, technology, communication and other agriculture-related sectors. The cards are also used in agriculture awareness events in schools and communities. The Exploring Agriculture Career Cards PowerPoint presentation is included with every purchase.

“Educators can take the cards to the next level by incorporating them into simulations,” Cooksey said. “These cards encourage youth to think realistically. For example, if a youth realizes they don’t enjoy math, they might reconsider becoming an accountant. Or, if they want to avoid college debt, they could explore careers like Farm Manager, which requires less formal education compared to roles like Biosystems Engineer. They can find a great career that doesn’t require a four-year degree.”

The categories found in each box include Agricultural Economics and Business, Ag Education, Communications and Studies, Agronomy and Crop Sciences, Animal and Dairy Sciences, Biological Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Fisheries, Forestry and Wildlife Biology, Food Science and Human Nutrition, Horticulture, Technical and Biosystems Engineering, Industrial Tech and Packaging Services.

Additional sets of these cards and other Ohio State University Extension, 4-H Youth Development publications are available through local OSU Extension offices and online at extensionpubs.osu.edu. Ohio residents get the best price when they order and pick up their purchases through local Extension offices. To purchase or learn more about the 4-H Career Cards go to https://extensionpubs.osu.edu/agriculture-career-cards/.

According to the Ohio Department of Agriculture, the top three highest-paying jobs in agriculture in the country are farm manager, forester and agricultural specialist.

The farm manager (with a national average annual salary of $61,100) are responsible for directing and overseeing the operations of a farm. These managers will delegate tasks like planting, fertilizing and harvesting crops. In addition, farm managers will also manage budgets, purchase materials and interact and maintain relationships with vendors and clients.

Foresters (with a national average salary of $42,608 annually) play critical roles in conservation efforts, land management and rehabilitation. These professionals develop, plan and implement various projects to protect and maintain the environment.

Agricultural specialists ($60,393 annually) are trained Customs and Border Patrol professionals responsible for ensuring imported agricultural products comply with United States policies on imports.

Rounding out the top 15 occupations related to agriculture are water treatment specialist, food technologist, environmental scientist, water resources engineer, operations manager, ecologist, agronomy manager, grower, agricultural equipment technician, agribusiness manager, veterinarian and biostatistician.