What services/strategies did you use to close labour gaps?
Four trends to watch for 2025 (according to you)
CLIENT EDUCATION "The most interesting trend is I find myself spending more time with clients and educating them about old world craftsmanship using new world construction. They have all been blinded by the 20 television shows that are mostly poor quality. Good from far but far from good. The quality shows are more technical and the general public doesn't watch that." WATER-WISE PLANT CHOICES "Xeriscaping is on the rise in the residential market." "Clients want larger plants and drought tolerant landscapes." "More plant diversity, developing more gardens to help pollinators. Gardens that have low water needs." "The trend away from lawns and more towards different types of ground covers other than grass." CHANGE IN SCALE, UP AND DOWN "Have noticed a higher demand for lower budget/ quality work this year. Clients looking for quick & cheapest work. Many are planning to move and not wanting to spend or willing to cut corners to flip a property." "Still lots of projects out there, just on a smaller scale." "Projects are getting larger and more complex. Customers want a 'turn key' project from design to installation. I will collaborate more with contractors to offer this seamless transition." AI TECHNOLOGY "Autonomous mowers will be a game changer. Using AI for CRM and lead generation will also ramp up quickly in the near future."
LANDSCAPE . JOBS 12.1 %
STAFFING AGENCIES 12.4 %
JOB FAIRS 7.6 %
In 2024, 53 per cent of respondents said they experienced a labour shortage, between “Somewhat” (47.9%) and “A lot” (5.1%). With so many vacant roles, employers had to get creative to ensure they had enough crew members to meet demand. For some, this meant being more selective and passing on smaller jobs to focus on higher quality projects. For others, it meant promoting employees to more responsible crew lead roles before they were ready. Ease of recruitment also seemed to depend on a business’s reputation within its local community. In addition to word of mouth, posting jobs on premises and offering flexible hours, most landscaping companies turned to general job boards to recruit staff.
34 | LANDSCAPE TRADES
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