Nursery and greenhouse labourers
Occupation · NOC 2021 85103 · Canada
- NOC 2021 code
- 85103
- TEER
- 5
- Positions on positive LMIAs, all lists
- 136,994
- Median wage, Canada
- C$19.50 per hour
- Job Bank postings, Jan–Sep 2026
- 1,856
OC<CANNURSERY<AND<GREENHOUSE<LABOURERS<<<<<< 851031<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<2
About this occupation
Nursery and greenhouse labourers plant, cultivate and harvest trees, shrubs, flowers and plants, and serve nursery and greenhouse customers. They are employed in indoor and outdoor nurseries and greenhouses.
Example job titles
- forest nursery labourer
- greenhouse labourer
- horticulture labourer
- hothouse labourer
- hydroponics worker
- nursery labourer
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.
Employment requirements
- Completion of secondary school may be required.
- Completion of college courses in horticulture or a related field may be required.
- On-the-job training is provided.
- A provincial licence to apply chemical fertilizers, fungicides, herbicides and pesticides may be required.
Temporary foreign worker positions (LMIA)
Positions on positive LMIAs in ESDC employer lists, by year of the list.
Approved positions by year
Data table
| 2016 | 14,694 |
| 2017 | 16,032 |
| 2018 | 8,991 |
| 2019 | 18,087 |
| 2020 | 17,393 |
| 2021 | 10,354 |
| 2022 | 12,096 |
| 2023 | 15,196 |
| 2024 | 12,286 |
| 2025 | 10,558 |
| 2026 | 1,307 |
- Ontario68,038
- Quebec29,298
- British Columbia28,233
- Alberta6,877
- Nova Scotia1,973
- Manitoba992
- New Brunswick912
- Saskatchewan483
- Prince Edward Island179
- Newfoundland and Labrador7
- Northwest Territories2
- Brookdale Treeland Nurseries Ltd.2,244
- DeVry Greenhouses2,062
- Pioneer Flower Farms Limited1,511
- PLANTATIONS NICHOLAS INC.1,364
- Rainbow Greenhouses Inc.1,354
- Les Serres Lefort Inc1,323
- Flower Group Operating Inc.1,322
- Darvonda Nurseries Ltd.1,301
- Ontario Plants Propagation Limited1,241
- Devry Greenhouse (1989) Ltd.1,212
- Van Belle Nursery, Inc.1,198
- Rosa Flora Growers Ltd1,184
- Somerville Nurseries Inc.1,108
- Gestion G.R.Y.N. Gilbert Inc.1,087
- Nature Fresh Farms Inc.1,037
Work permits
Work permit holders by year the permit took effect, mapped from NOC 2016 where the code has a single NOC 2021 successor (IRCC).
| Year | TFWP permits | IMP permits |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 8,410 | 0 |
| 2025 | 9,630 | 0 |
| 2024 | 9,705 | 0 |
| 2023 | 9,245 | 0 |
| 2022 | 7,935 | 0 |
| 2021 | 12,280 | 0 |
| 2020 | 6,540 | 5 |
| 2019 | 4,770 | 0 |
| 2018 | 3,970 | 0 |
| 2017 | 3,305 | 0 |
| 2016 | 2,740 | 0 |
| 2015 | 2,205 | 10 |
All work permits by year
Data table
| 2015 | 2,215 |
| 2016 | 2,740 |
| 2017 | 3,305 |
| 2018 | 3,970 |
| 2019 | 4,770 |
| 2020 | 6,545 |
| 2021 | 12,280 |
| 2022 | 7,935 |
| 2023 | 9,245 |
| 2024 | 9,705 |
| 2025 | 9,630 |
| 2026 | 8,410 |
Permanent residence
Admissions of permanent residents by intended occupation and Express Entry invitations by occupation (IRCC).
New permanent residents by year
Data table
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2022 | 30 |
| 2023 | 35 |
Wages
Median wage by province and territory (2025 release). Hourly unless marked per year.
| Area | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | C$15.25 | C$19.50 | C$29.00 |
| Alberta | C$15.00 | C$19.50 | C$25.00 |
| British Columbia | C$17.85 | C$19.00 | C$29.36 |
| Manitoba | C$16.00 | C$16.00 | C$21.50 |
| New Brunswick | C$15.65 | C$18.00 | C$21.00 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | C$16.00 | C$17.35 | C$24.85 |
| Nova Scotia | C$16.50 | C$18.50 | C$24.00 |
| Ontario | C$17.60 | C$20.50 | C$33.33 |
| Quebec | C$16.64 | C$20.00 | C$25.78 |
| Saskatchewan | C$15.35 | C$17.00 | C$25.00 |
- Job Bank postings, Jan–Sep 2026
- 1,856
- Vacancies advertised
- 19,483
- Median advertised minimum hourly wage
- C$17.85
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