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OaSIS 2025 Version 1.0
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85103.00 – Nursery and greenhouse labourers

Nursery and greenhouse labourers plant, cultivate and harvest trees, shrubs, flowers and plants, and serve nursery and greenhouse customers.

Overview

Example job titles

  • Forest nursery labourer
  • Greenhouse labourer
  • Horticulture labourer
  • Hothouse labourer
  • Hydroponics labourer
  • Nursery labourer

Core competencies

  • Operation and Control to operate tractors and other machinery and equipment to fertilize, cultivate, harvest and spray plants
  • Preventative Maintenance to perform regular maintenance on irrigation systems, pruning shears or greenhouse climate control systems to reduce the need for replacement or major repairs
  • Trunk Strength to dig, cut and transplant trees, shrubs, flowers and plants to prepare them for sale
  • Body Flexibility to bend, crouch or stretch to plant, cultivate and harvest trees, shrubs, flowers and plants
  • Collaboration to coordinate passing plants from one worker to another or sharing tools and equipment to complete tasks efficiently
  • Knowledge in Agriculture and Horticulture to understand the specific needs of different plant species to promote healthy growth, including soil, water, light and fertilizer

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

  • Prepare soil; plant bulbs, seeds and cuttings; graft and bud plants; and transplant seedlings and rooted cuttings
  • Monitor plants for healthy growth and potential weed, insect, disease, and fertilizer problems in greenhouse crops
  • Spray trees, shrubs, flowers and plants to prevent disease and pests
  • Position and regulate greenhouse and outdoor irrigation systems to water plants and fields
  • Dig, cut and transplant trees, shrubs, flowers and plants and prepare them for sale
  • Provide information to customers on gardening, the use of various garden tools and products and the care of trees, shrubs, flowers, plants and lawns
  • May operate tractors and other machinery and equipment to fertilize, cultivate, harvest and spray fields and plants
  • Maintain inventory and order materials as required
  • Clean working areas.

Additional information

  • Progression to supervisory positions, such as greenhouse supervisor, is possible with experience.

Similar occupations classified elsewhere

Exclusions:

  • Contractors and supervisors, landscaping, grounds maintenance and horticulture services (82031)
  • Harvesting labourers (85101)
  • Landscaping and grounds maintenance labourers (85121)
  • Managers in horticulture (80021)
  • Silviculture and forestry workers (84111)

NOC hierarchy breakdown

NOC version

NOC 2021 Version 1.0

Broad occupational category

8 – Natural resources, agriculture and related production occupations

TEER

5 – Occupations usually require short-term work demonstration and no formal education

Major group

85 – Harvesting, landscaping and natural resources labourers

Sub-major group

851 – Harvesting, landscaping and natural resources labourers

Minor group

8510 – Agriculture, horticulture and harvesting labourers and related occupations

Unit group

85103 – Nursery and greenhouse labourers

Occupational profile

85103.00 – Nursery and greenhouse labourers

O*NET in-it

This page includes information from the O*NET 27.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Employment and Social Development Canada has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.