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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
NOC85103TEER 5
Year by year
Data as at 2026
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

9,04418k20162017201820192020202120222023202420252026
9,04418k201620182020202220242026
Data table
201614,694
201716,032
20188,991
201918,087
202017,393
202110,354
202212,096
202315,196
202412,286
202510,558
20261,307
By province or territory
  1. Ontario68,038
  2. Quebec29,298
  3. British Columbia28,233
  4. Alberta6,877
  5. Nova Scotia1,973
  6. Manitoba992
  7. New Brunswick912
  8. Saskatchewan483
  9. Prince Edward Island179
  10. Newfoundland and Labrador7
  11. Northwest Territories2
Employers with the most positions
  1. Brookdale Treeland Nurseries Ltd.2,244
  2. DeVry Greenhouses2,062
  3. Pioneer Flower Farms Limited1,511
  4. PLANTATIONS NICHOLAS INC.1,364
  5. Rainbow Greenhouses Inc.1,354
  6. Les Serres Lefort Inc1,323
  7. Flower Group Operating Inc.1,322
  8. Darvonda Nurseries Ltd.1,301
  9. Ontario Plants Propagation Limited1,241
  10. Devry Greenhouse (1989) Ltd.1,212
  11. Van Belle Nursery, Inc.1,198
  12. Rosa Flora Growers Ltd1,184
  13. Somerville Nurseries Inc.1,108
  14. Gestion G.R.Y.N. Gilbert Inc.1,087
  15. Nature Fresh Farms Inc.1,037
By stream
  1. Primary agriculture stream (TFWP)122,199
  2. Low-wage stream (TFWP)80
  3. Global Talent Stream (TFWP)21

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).

YearTFWP permitsIMP permits
20268,4100
20259,6300
20249,7050
20239,2450
20227,9350
202112,2800
20206,5405
20194,7700
20183,9700
20173,3050
20162,7400
20152,20510

All work permits by year

6,14012k201520162017201820192020202120222023202420252026
6,14012k2015201720192021202320252026
Data table
20152,215
20162,740
20173,305
20183,970
20194,770
20206,545
202112,280
20227,935
20239,245
20249,705
20259,630
20268,410

Permanent residence

Admissions of permanent residents by intended occupation and Express Entry invitations by occupation (IRCC).

New permanent residents by year

1835202120222023
1835202120222023
Data table
20215
202230
202335

Wages

Median wage by province and territory (2025 release). Hourly unless marked per year.

AreaLowMedianHigh
CanadaC$15.25C$19.50C$29.00
AlbertaC$15.00C$19.50C$25.00
British ColumbiaC$17.85C$19.00C$29.36
ManitobaC$16.00C$16.00C$21.50
New BrunswickC$15.65C$18.00C$21.00
Newfoundland and LabradorC$16.00C$17.35C$24.85
Nova ScotiaC$16.50C$18.50C$24.00
OntarioC$17.60C$20.50C$33.33
QuebecC$16.64C$20.00C$25.78
SaskatchewanC$15.35C$17.00C$25.00
Job Bank postings, Jan–Sep 2026
1,856
Vacancies advertised
19,483
Median advertised minimum hourly wage
C$17.85