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Explore a Career in Horticulture

Jobs in Gardening are Growing – Literally!

Jan 2, 2009 Debbie Kwiatoski

Ever think about a career where you could get your hands dirty? There is a serious shortage of qualified workers in horticulture.

According to industry sources, there is a serious lack of qualified, long-term workers in the professional horticultural field, partially because it tends to be either misunderstood regarding its income-producing potential. To many, the horticulture industry is seen as being a dead-end, low-income, manual labor grind that, depending upon the region, may be seasonal – at best. So misunderstood is the professional horticulture industry, in fact, that many high school guidance counselors actually discourage students from seeking employment or education in the field.

Yet, in addition to obvious job descriptions, including arborist, nurseryman or landscape designer, the full range of business activities within the field also exists for the right qualified people. Horticulture also employs small business entrepreneurs, accountants, buyers, merchandisers and marketing people, among many others. Yet, recruiting the "right people" has been so problematic in recent years that two dozen green industry trade organizations have launched a web site to try and change the general opinion of the industry.

www.The Land Lovers.org is a site aimed at raising awareness of the green industry. While the site is targeted at junior and senior high school students who have yet to determine a career path, there is a great deal of excellent information there that gives a full background on the industry and explains employment opportunities, including retail management, plant growing, landscape design and irrigation.

The copyright of the article Explore a Career in Horticulture in Career Advice is owned by Debbie Kwiatoski. Permission to republish Explore a Career in Horticulture in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.