Ornamental Horticultural Employment Opportunities in Omaha, Nebraska

Robert P. Kirwin, Jr. An Inventory of Ornamental Horticultural Employment Opportunities in Omaha, Nebraska. Thesis, M.S., 1970, Library, University of Nebraska, Lincoln. Advisor. Dr. Roy D. Dillon Purpose. The purpose of this study was to determine the ornamental horticultural employment opportunities in the metropolitan area of Omaha, Nebraska. The problem was defined in terms of the following obj ecti ves : (1) to ident ify employment opportunities by clusters of job titles or occupational areas; (2) to determine trends of oc'cupational opportunities existing in the field of ornamental horticulture; and (3) to identify selected characteristics of employees in ornamental horticulture businesses: (a) level of education desired for future employees, and (b) ages of employees. Methods. The region of study, or universe, was designated as Omaha, Nebraska. For purposes of this study, only those firms and businesses that used an Omaha mailing address were included in the universe. The occupational family of ornamental horticulture was categorized on the. basis of the major function of the firm. The seven categories were: (1) Wholesale Florists; (2) Retail Florists; (3) Landscape Service; (4) Golf Courses; (5) Tree Service; (6) Nurseryman; and (7) Retail Vendor of Nursery Stock. Lists of firms and businesses were then compiled. Firms listed in categories 1 through 5 were taken from the yellow pages of the Omaha Telephone Directory, May 1969 edition. The firms listed in categories 6 and 7 were taken from the 1970 List of Nebraska Nurserymen, published by the Nebraska State Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Plant Industry. This list contains names of all firms and businesses that are commercially involved with producing and selling perennial plants. All lists were cross checked to avoid duplications, and a table of random numbers was used to select a 25 percent random sample from each of these 7 categories. These firms and businesses were then contacted to obtain data. The data collection instrument used combined features of questionnaires used by Blezek and Zikmund at the University of Nebraska, Meaders at Michigan State University, and Griffin at the University of Missouri. Selected firms and businesses were then contacted to obtain data. Findings. There will be an average annual increase of 58 full-time men employees and 12 full-time women employees between 1970 and 1975. The largest number of new full-time employees will be in semi-skilled occupations, with 112 new full-time men employees needed between 1970 and 1975. The number of new full-time employees needed in professional occupations will increase in the period 1970-1975 by 36 men and 44 women employees. The number of new full-time employees needed in skilled occupations will increase in the period 1970-1975 by 56 men employees. The number of new full-time employees needed in technical occupations will increase in the period 1970-1975 by 36 men and 4 women employees. The number of new full-time employees needed in sales occupations in the period 1970-1975 will increase by 20 men employees and decrease by 8 women employees. The number of new full-time employees needed in managerial occupations in the period 1970-1975 will increase by 8 men employees and 4 women employees. There will be an average annual increase of 88 parttime men employees and 56 part-time women employees. The largest number of new part-time employees will be needed in semi-skilled occupations, with 44 new part-time men employees needed between 1970 and 1975. The number of new part-time 'employees needed in professional occupations will increase in the period 1970-1975 by 16 men and 20 women employees. The number of new part-time employees needed in technical occupations will increase in the period 1970-1975 by 28 women employees. The number of new parttime employees needed in skilled occupations will increase in the period 1970-1975 by 24 men employees. The number of new part-time employees needed in sales occupations will increase in the 1970-1975 period by 4 men and 8 women employees. The number of new part-time employees needed in managerial occupations will increase in the period 19701975 by 4 men employees. A total of 64 persons employed were 61 years of age or over. Because these persons will probably retire at age 65, the replacement of these employees can be considered as employment opportunities. A high majority of employers desired that employees have a high school education at almost all levels of employment. The majority of employers indicated that they would cooperate with the local high school in providing a training program to prepare students for employment in ornamental horticultural occupations.