Nursery and Greenhouse Workers
What they do?
Nursery and greenhouse workers perform some or all of the following duties:
A. Prepare soil; plant bulbs, seeds and cuttings; graft and bud plants; and transplant seedlings and rooted cuttings
B. Spray trees, shrubs, flowers and plants to prevent disease and pests
C. Position and regulate greenhouse and outdoor irrigation systems to water plants and fields
D. Dig, cut and transplant trees, shrubs, flowers and plants and prepare them for sale
E. Provide information to customers on gardening and the care of trees, shrubs, flowers, plants and lawns
F. May operate tractors and other machinery and equipment to fertilize, cultivate, harvest and spray fields and plants
G. Maintain inventory and order materials as required
Where they find work?
1. Farms - 75.0%
2. Retail trade - 9.0%
3. Wholesale trade - 4.0%
4. Administrative and support waste management and remediation services - 3.0%
What education do I need?
1. You may need a high school diploma or college courses in horticulture or a related field.
2. You may receive on-the-job training and you may need a provincial/territorial licence to apply chemical fertilizers, fungicides, herbicides, and pesticides.
3. Most recent entrants have a community college diploma.
High School Subject that will help:
1. Math
2. English
3. Chemistry
4. Biology
What can you expect to make:
The average hourly wages for Nursery and Greenhouse Workers is $10.78/HR, which is below average for occupations in the primary industry sector and are below average for all intermediate occupations. These wages grew at an above-average rate from 2002 to 2004.
Average Wage
Expected Wage by Age
Unemployment:
16% of Nursery and Greenhouse Workers are unemployed. This rate is above the average for intermediate occupations.
Unemployment
Trends in Unemployment
Current Job Outlook:
The job outlook for Nursery and Greenhouse Workers is considered Below Average because:
1. Employment grew at an above-average rate.
2. Hourly wages ($10.78) are below the average ($18.07), and the rate of wage growth is above average.
3. The unemployment rate (16%) is above the 2004 average (7%).
Future Job Prospects:
Your job outlook will continue to be Below Average because:
1. The employment growth rate will likely be below average.
2. The retirement rate will likely be below average, and the number of retiring workers should not contribute significantly to job openings.
3. The number of job seekers will likely exceed the number of job openings.
Highest Concetration:
The highest concentrations Nursery and Greenhouse Workers are found in Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan and Prince Edward Island while the lowest concentrations are in New Brunswick and Newfoundland.
Useful Experience:
1. Physical/outdoor work
2. Environment/safety procedures
3. Communication skills
Age Demographics
Age Demographics:
The relatively high percentage of younger workers suggests more entry-level positions and jobs that may serve as stepping stones in a career. The retirement rate to 2009 will likely be below average because of a tendency to retire at an older-than-average age (66).
