Study of employment opportunities and characteristics desired for gainful employment in ornamental horticultural occupations in Oklahoma

Abstract

Scope and Method of Study: Personal interviews were conducted with managers of 112 randomly selected greenhouse and nursery business establishments throughout Oklahoma to determine probable employment opportunities in the next five years and the characteristics desired of potential employees needing agricultural competencies at various levels of employment.

Findings and Conclusions: Opportunities appear fairly abundant for the various levels of employment in ornamental horticultural businesses in Oklahoma. The greatest opportunities appear to be at the skilled and semi-skilled levels. Managers responding recognized the need for increasing wages at various levels in order to compete with other industries for high quality personnel. Age was not recognized as a limiting factor for employment if good health and adequate knowledge was possessed by potential employees. High school graduation was most often cited as the desired minimum level of educational attainment. Some college and post high school technical education were recognized as desirable for positions at a number of levels. A college graduate was desired in most professional and managerial positions. Employees with either a farm background or no preference of residential back~ ground with a part-time experience in all ornamental horticultural business were desired in most cases. It appears that few, if any, restrictions are imposed by labor unions or labor laws. Minor restrictions may be imposed concurrent to obtaining license for the business operation. Ornamental horticultural businesses use their own training programs or training offered by the industry in most cases. Offerings by an agricultural college are used to advance on the job or to secure a related position. Many managers placed great emphasis on the need for more training programs within reasonable proximity of their business. A projected total of 644 employees, qualified with above a high school education, will be needed in ornamental horticultural businesses in the next five years. Many managers expressed concern regarding the possibility that potential employees with the desired training would not be available.

It appears that Vocational Agricultural teachers and County Agricultural Agents need to stress certain training programs in ornamental horticulture and provide counseling and encouragement for interested students. It seems evident that some type of training programs need to be offered at the local level to provide the education which manager s fee l would be of help to the industry.