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Landscape and horticulture technicians and specialists (NOC 2225)

Table of contents
About this job Earnings and Outlook Duties Work environment Workforce and employment statistics
Job requirements Insights from industry Related careers Career paths and resources
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About this job

Landscape and horticultural technicians and specialists survey and assess landscapes; draw sketches and build models of landscape designs; construct and maintain gardens, parks, golf courses and other landscaped environments; advise clients on issues related to horticulture; breed, cultivate and study plants and treat injured and diseased trees and plants.

Want to learn more? Watch this WorkBC Career Trek video and see what it’s like to work in this type of career.

5:57

Landscape horticulturalist
Source: WorkBC's Career Trek

People in this occupation:

  • are employed by landscape designers and contractors, lawn service and tree care establishments, golf courses, nurseries and greenhouses and municipal, provincial and national parks, and may also be self-employed
  • must have a comprehensive knowledge of the qualities and care needs for ornamental and food plants, trees and shrubs
  • must be physically fit and able to bend and lift heavy objects
  • should have an artistic sense and have the ability to visualise completed landscaped environments
Common job titles
  • arborist / arboriculturist
  • floriculturist
  • greenskeeper / greens superintendent
  • specialist, lawn care / turfgrass mgmt
  • superintendent, golf course / greens
  • technician, hydroponics
  • arborist / arboriculturist
  • floriculturist
  • greenskeeper / greens superintendent
  • horticulturist
  • interior plantscape specialist
  • landscape gardener / designer / technician

Earnings

Annual provincial median salary

$49,533

Source: 2017 Job Bank Wage data

Note:Estimated median employment income based on 2017 Job Bank median hourly wage rate (median annual salary = hourly wage rate x 40 (hours per week) x 52.14 (weeks per year))

Provincial hourly rate

  • High
  • Median
  • Low

Source: 2017 Job Bank Wage Report

B.C. Labour Market Outlook (2018-2028)

Provincial outlook

Forecasted average employment growth rate

  • 2018 - 2023
  • 2023 - 2028

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Job openings

10 year expected job openings: 1,190

  • 2018
  • 2023
  • 2028

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Composition of job openings

 
New jobs due to economic growth:
31.1%
370 openings
 
Replacement of retiring workers:
68.9%
820 openings

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Regional outlook

Select a region to view regional outlook
Vancouver Island / Coast Mainland / Southwest Thompson-Okanagan Kootenay Cariboo Northeast North Coast & Nechako
Cariboo
Employment in 2018:
70
Average annual employment growth:
-0.1%
Expected number of job openings:
10
Kootenay
Employment in 2018:
180
Average annual employment growth:
0.7%
Expected number of job openings:
50
Mainland / Southwest
Employment in 2018:
1,720
Average annual employment growth:
1.1%
Expected number of job openings:
590
North Coast & Nechako
Employment in 2018:
50
Average annual employment growth:
0.8%
Expected number of job openings:
10
Northeast
Employment in 2018:
20
Average annual employment growth:
0.6%
Expected number of job openings:
10
Thompson-Okanagan
Employment in 2018:
500
Average annual employment growth:
0.7%
Expected number of job openings:
150
Vancouver Island / Coast
Employment in 2018:
1,000
Average annual employment growth:
1.1%
Expected number of job openings:
360

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Duties

Arborists and tree service technicians

Arborists and tree service technicians examine trees and shrubs to diagnose problems and disease, and apply various treatments such as pruning, spraying, repairing damaged areas and injecting with treatment solutions.

Golf course superintendents

Golf course superintendents direct crews who maintain the health and appearance of golf courses and their surrounding landscapes, plant and move trees, and apply fertilizers, fungicides, herbicides and pesticides.

Horticulturists

Horticulturists plan and co-ordinate the growth and use of plants for landscaping, ornamental uses and other purposes.

Landscape designers

Landscape designers and landscape architectural technicians and technologists survey and assess sites, prepare drawings, sketches and reports and perform other duties to assist landscape architects in designing landscaped environments.

Landscape gardeners

Landscape gardeners plant and maintain private and public lawns and gardens.

Landscapers

Landscapers plan and construct landscaped environments which may include trees, shrubberies, lawns, fences, decks, patios and other landscape structures.

Lawn care specialists

Lawn care specialists visit clients, assess the health of lawns, and apply fertilizer, pesticides and other lawn care products.

Work environment

Landscape and horticultural technicians and specialists generally have standard hours, however, extended work hours are common during peak seasons and there may be periods of seasonal unemployment. They typically work outside where they may be exposed to extreme weather conditions, though for landscape designers, some work is done indoors.

The work is often dirty and can involve the use of dangerous equipment, such as chain saws and chippers, and toxic chemicals, such as fertilizers and pesticides. Arborists are required to work at heights from ladders, from boom trucks or by climbing trees. Workers follow safety precautions to limit risk of injury.

Workforce and employment statistics

Workforce characteristics

3,600 workers are employed
39% of workers are working mostly full time

Source: 2016 Census

Employment by gender

  Men
  Women

Source: 2016 Census

Employment by age group

  15 - 24 years
  25 - 44 years
  45 - 64 years
  65+ years

Source: 2016 Census

Labour force by industry

Information, Culture and Recreation:
29%
Public Administration:
22%
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services:
11%
Educational Services:
9%
Retail Trade:
7%
View more industry data

Source: 2016 Census

Employment by region

Select your region:
Vancouver Island / Coast Mainland / Southwest Thompson-Okanagan Kootenay Cariboo Northeast North Coast & Nechako
  % employment of this occupation
  % employment of all occupations
Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland / Southwest
North Coast & Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island / Coast

Source: 2016 Census

Insights from industry

As employment in this occupation tends to be seasonal, workers will experience months of strong employment growth.

Opporutnities will result from the need to replace workers who retire. There will also be openings that arise from turnover as workers leave the occupation due to the physical nature of the work and/or the relatively lower earnings.

The demand for landscape and horticultural technicians and specialists is connected to construction activity, population growth, and the overall health of the provincial economy. Growth in housing construction and renovation, parks development, and gardening and golfing activity have increased the demand for workers in this occupation, especially those involved in landscape design, landscaping and garden maintenance and greenskeeping services.

Career paths and resources

Career paths

With experience, landscape and horticultural technologists and technicians can advance to supervisory positions or start their own business.

Additional resources

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Profile last updated:
December 11, 2018
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