Around 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 returns depending on whether we are looking solely at sex or age and sex.

In addition, the figures do not include those that selected ‘prefer not to say’ (0.4% of working occupiers who provided a response). Full details can be found in table 9 of the accompanying tables. The figures presented here also relate only to those who provided a response 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 2026, around two-thirds of working occupiers were aged 55 years and over and 16% were 44 years and under. Male and female working occupiers are generally similar ages. A slightly greater proportion of male occupiers were aged over 64 years with a slightly greater proportion of female occupiers aged 55 to 64 years. However, this estimate may not include some family members who also provide some labour. For all working occupiers where age and sex information has been provided, 40% worked full-time (39 hours per week). If all working occupiers are included (regardless of whether age and sex information has been provided) then 32% worked full-time.

Figure 13: Age profile of male and female working occupiers, 2026.

Figure 14: Male and female working occupier time, 2026. Note this only includes those who provided a response. It does not, therefore, show the total number of occupiers. Also excludes ‘prefer not say’ response when asking occupiers about their sex.