Landscape Management, October 2013
Force to reckon with As the labor market tightens landscape contractors continue to struggle to fill key positions G reenSeasons a full service landscape company in Baton Rouge La just cannot get steady workers owner Chris Casselberry says The companys annual revenue for 2012 was 7 million and it expects to be up about 100000 in 2013 We could have done better but we arent really pushing too hard because we dont have the labor force he says Casselberry is not alone Finding good people is the biggest obstacle says Dan Dahlkemper of Dahlkemper Landscape Architects Contractors in Erie Pa Labor is hands down the No 1 thing that hinders growth for the landscape division of Potomac Garden Center in Urbana Md says Matt Owens vice president of landscape operations Staffing is absolutely our biggest hurdle to growth says Andrew Ziehler owner of Ziehler Lawn Tree Care in Centerville Ohio With the unemployment decreasing and construction market picking up nationwide the landscape labor pool likely will get even tighter says consultant Bruce Wilson of the Wilson Oyler Group Contractors are worried about labor costs going up he says Why do these companies have such trouble finding workers Most Green Industry professionals have a similar story to tell To start people dont have a positive view about working in the Green Industry Casselberry says Plus its hard work If you feel the heat we work in most people come in and say Oh I cant do that kind of work LANDSCAPEMANAGEMENT NET OCTOBER 2013 S18 he says Most Americans dont raise their kids to go work outside all day Now kids play electronic games and they go to college To battle these obstacles Casselberrys company offers benefits and gives bonuses to people who bring in workers The company also works with a state labor program and calls charities and churches looking for people who are unemployed Additionally GreenSeasons uses the H 2B guest worker visa program for about half of its workforce which is a challenge of its own In fact if the government forces the company to raise its wages for H 2B workers next year from the 11 per hour it currently pays them he may be forced to make cuts Under the new wage meth LABOR REPORT By MARISA PALMIERI Editor WAGE REPORT SALARY Current Change Wage Year to Year Crew foreman team leader 31189 9 Salesperson 49116 6 Equipment mechanic 38265 10 Landscape designer 42136 2 Landscape architect 59869 5 Account manager 43776 4 Supervisor 39411 4 Operations manager 55951 5 Office manager 35350 n r last year Owner president 79496 6 Branch manager 71000 6
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