Two-thirds of working occupiers are aged 55 years and over

Not all responses to the agricultural census provide occupier sex and age information, therefore, the following information comes from a subset of the census returns depending on whether we are looking solely at sex or age and sex. 

In additon, the figures do not include those that selected ‘prefer not to say’ (0.4% of working occupiers who provided an answer). Full details can be found in table 9 of the accompanying tables. The figures presented here also relate only to those who provided an answer and not the total number of occupiers in Scotland.  

The majority of the workforce are owner-occupiers, made up of people who own or rent the farm and work on it. Of all working occupiers, 65% were male and 35% were female. 

In 2025, two-thirds of working occupiers were aged 55 years and over and 16% of were 44 years and under.

Figure 13: Age profile of male and female working occupiers, 2025.

Male and female working occupiers are generally similar ages. However, this estimate may not include some family members who also provide some labour. For all working occupiers, 38% worked full-time (39 hours per week). 

Figure 14: Male and female working occupier time, 2025. Note this only includes those who provided a response, therefore, does not show the total number of occupiers. Also excludes ‘prefer not say’ response when asking occupiers about their sex.