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Dealing with a Worker Shortage (An American Arborist Perspective)
20 Mar 2008
How tree care companies recruit and retain workers
When it comes to tree care, an increasing number of homeowners and businesses are turning to professionals to help care for the general health of their trees. This increased interest in professional tree care services is a result of a number of factors including urbanization, urban sprawl, natural disasters and imported insect pests and tree diseases. While the increased demand for professional tree services is helping to grow tree care businesses, it is also putting a strain on their workforce. The availability of skilled and job-ready workers and the retention of these workers are two of the most prevalent challenges facing the tree care industry today.
According to ArborMaster, the commercial arborist industry employs approximately 225,000 people. The average tree care company in the United States experiences an annual turnover rate of 25 percent, or four persons. This turnover contributes to the shortage. Fifty percent of this shortage — or 30,000 positions annually — is for the job classification of ground worker.
The ground worker holds an entry-level position in the tree care industry. These persons perform equipment operation and transportation, climbing support and pruning services. This is an ideal introduction to the industry and a building block for a career in arboriculture.
Despite the job availability, there’s no rush to enter the tree care service profession. A number of factors come into play. There is a lack of educational programs to teach those entering the industry how to perform efficient and safe tree care services. In most cases there are no incentives to seek out the limited education that is available.
Also, tree care service jobs in many parts of the country are seasonal. Without a portfolio of services to offset changes in seasonal demand, it is difficult to maintain an established workforce. Wright Tree Service, based in Des Moines, Iowa, knows this firsthand. “We have a difficult time finding people who want to work in the tree care industry,” says Julie Chapman, director of human resources for Wright Tree Service.
Wright Tree Service has operations in 24 states and focuses on utility line clearing. According to Chapman, Wright is continuously looking for good ground workers and individuals from within the ground worker ranks who have the skills and characteristics to become managers.
“There just aren’t that many people who have the same work ethic found 15 years ago,” says Chapman. “This is a physical and often dirty job, and many of today’s young adults just are not willing to work in those conditions.” Wright Tree Service has found success in hiring Hispanic workers; however, confirming immigration status makes this difficult in some regions of the country. They’ve also had success asking current employees to recommend potential candidates and tapping into arboriculture programs at technical, vocational and four-year colleges. “Our current workforce can be our best recruiters,” says Chapman. “They can explain the type of work they do and what to expect.” Wright Tree Service is also providing training to its managers on how to identify individuals with management potential.
“With a high industry turnover rate, we cannot afford to place inexperienced workers on a job,” says Chapman. “So we’ve developed programs to help our managers develop their hiring skills to offer employment to the right individuals and learn how to nurture workers with management potential.”
One program created by Wright Tree Service is designed to provide additional training to ndividuals with management potential. Division mnagers have the opportunity to select three workers with management potential to attend an annual training program. Attendees participate in a series of mini-sessions that equip these individuals with the tools and skills to further advance within the company. Despite these efforts, Chapman doesn’t see the situation improving in the near future.
“It will require an industry effort to attract qualified workers to the tree care industry,” she says. “There’s no silver bullet. It will require ingenuity, legislative reform and individuals interested in physical work.”
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