One of the current challenges to improve the competitiveness and productivity of the agricultural sector is to attract and retain qualified personnel. The objective of this study is to analyse the differences in preferences regarding employment in the agricultural sector, in order to improve the attraction and retention of talent. A sample of 522 employees and university students was analysed. Personal surveys and focus groups were developed. U Mann‑Whitney and Kruskal Wallis tests were used to test for differences in job preferences by position, gender, generation and current and future workers. Results show a change in preferences for employment in the new Z and millennial generations; workers up to 40 years of age differ in preferring jobs to fulfil themselves professionally, and university students, salary and flexible remuneration; while those under 20 years prefer that work is in line with their ideas. University women differ in preferring a job in line with their ideas while men focus on performance rewards. Executives and managers differ in preferring performance and flexible rewards, personal development, conciliation, work environment, stability and consistency with their ideas. In addition, future workers differ significantly in preferring a job that allows them to develop professionally and that the company offers training, recognition or other forms of motivation. The paper concludes about the need to carry out differentiated personnel management, as well as to improve the university-company alignment to attract and retain talent in the agricultural sector, improving competitiveness and productivity.

Carpio‑Pacheco DA, Urbano B (2021). Preferencias ante el empleo en el sector agrario: un análisis de género, generacional y de trabajadores actuales y futuros. ITEA‑Información Técnica Económica Agraria 117(4): 436-448. https://doi.org/10.12706/itea.2020.043