The New American Success Story
A Four-Year Degree Is Not the Only Path
Today's job market tells a different story. Skilled trades and construction careers offer strong pay, real job security, and a future that doesn't start with six figures of debt.
Employment Facts EditorialSeptember 22, 2026
Latest Stories
Landscape Industry Statistics
The landscape services industry has a market size of $188.8 billion in 2025, employs more than 1.4 million people, and has grown at an average of 6.5 percent per year since 2020.
Employment FactsSep 22, 20266 min read
Construction Is One of the Fastest-Growing Sectors in America
The U.S. needs 546,000 additional construction workers this year alone. Demand is outpacing supply — and wages are rising to match.
Employment FactsSep 20, 2026
Earn While You Learn: How Apprenticeships Are Changing the Game
Apprenticeships pay workers from day one. No tuition. No debt. Average starting wages top $20 an hour and climb fast.
Employment FactsSep 18, 2026
By the Numbers
546KConstruction Workers NeededU.S. shortage in 2026
$60KPool & Spa Installer SalaryBLS, 2026
$0Apprenticeship TuitionEarn while you learn
In Depth
America Needs 546,000 More Construction Workers — This Year
The construction labor shortage is the largest in a decade. For workers willing to enter the field, the timing has never been better.
Earn While You Learn: The Case for Registered Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships pay from day one — no tuition, no debt. Average starting wages top $15 an hour and climb quickly with experience and certification.
Trade Spotlight
Water Features: A Trade Worth Diving Into
Pools, ponds, waterfalls, and fountains are booming — and the skilled workers who build them are in high demand. Here's why water feature installation is one of the most rewarding trades you can learn.
Employment Facts·September 22, 2026·7 min read
$17B+Pool & Spa Industry RevenueAnnual U.S. market
$75KExperienced Installer WagesMedian upper range
1–3 yrsApprenticeship LengthEarn while you learn
When most people picture a trade career, they think of electrical work or plumbing. Few think about the craftspeople who design and install backyard ponds, cascading waterfalls, and resort-style swimming pools. That's a missed opportunity — because the water features industry is growing fast, the work is skilled and creative, and the pay reflects it.
The U.S. swimming pool and spa industry alone generates over $17 billion in annual revenue. Demand surged during the pandemic and has not let up. Homeowners are investing in outdoor living spaces at record rates, and water features — from koi ponds to infinity-edge pools — are at the top of the wish list.
Water feature installers work across a range of specialties: swimming pool construction, pond and waterfall design, fountain installation, irrigation and water management, and aquatic ecosystem maintenance. Each requires a distinct skill set, and experienced workers can command premium rates.
Median wages for skilled pool and spa installers range from $45,000 to $75,000 per year, with experienced technicians and project leads earning well above that. Business owners in the trade regularly report six-figure incomes. And unlike many office careers, the work is tangible — you build something beautiful that families enjoy for decades.
Get Paid to Learn the Trade
You don't need a four-year degree to break into water features. Most professionals enter the trade through on-the-job training or a registered apprenticeship — and they earn a paycheck from day one.
Apprenticeships in pool construction, landscape installation, and irrigation typically run one to three years. During that time, apprentices work alongside experienced tradespeople, learning excavation, plumbing, electrical systems, pump mechanics, and water chemistry. Wages start around $16–$20 per hour and increase as skills develop.
Organizations like the Association of Pool & Spa Professionals (APSP) and the National Swimming Pool Foundation (NSPF) offer certifications that boost earning potential and open doors to higher-end residential and commercial projects. Many employers pay for certification training as part of the job.
The path is straightforward: start as a laborer or helper, learn the craft hands-on, earn certifications, and move into a lead installer or project manager role within a few years. No student debt. No years spent in a classroom. Just real skills, real pay, and a career built on work you can see.
"You build something beautiful that families enjoy for decades — and you get paid to learn how."
Industry Spotlight
Landscape Industry Statistics
The landscape industry encompasses a wide range of service lines, areas of expertise, and job positions. Here are key statistics and reports on the size and scope of the industry.
$188.8BIndustry Market SizeIBIS World, 2025
1.4M+People EmployedLandscaping sector
6.5%Annual Market Growth5-year average, 2020–2025
Size of the Industry
Statistics from the IBIS World Landscaping Services Industry Report show that the landscape services industry has a market size of $188.8 billion in 2025. The industry employs more than 1.4 million people and represents 692,777 landscaping service businesses — a 4.8% increase from 2024.
Between 2020 and 2025, the market size of the landscaping industry has grown at an average of 6.5 percent per year.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks industry employment and wages across Landscaping Services, Supervisors of Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers, Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers, and Tree Trimmers and Pruners.
State of the Industry
According to the January 2026 Economic Forecast Report, 2026 will be a year of mild to moderate growth — though with significant deviation between individual markets. The construction market is going through a soft spot with both single-unit housing and nonresidential construction.
Inflation's impact on the cost of essentials and housing is weighing on consumers, particularly for younger or lower-income families. However, consumers are continuing to buy at an accelerating pace on both a dollar and volume basis.
According to the 2025 Financial Benchmark Study, participants had a median of 355 customers and generated $14,682 per customer. The typical company reported sales growth of 8.5 percent, and the most profitable companies grew by 7.2 percent. Employee productivity has increased with the average firm generating $123 per employee.
The top concerns for landscape companies are finding qualified employees and maintaining profit levels. Labor costs are expected to rise roughly 20% from now through the end of 2029.
Consumer Statistics
Axiom's 2025 Gardening Insights Survey found Gen Z (65.4%), Gen Y (47%), and male (43.4%) respondents reported the greatest increase in time spent gardening in 2024 compared to 2023. In 2024, 44.4% of respondents spent more money gardening.
The top projects for 2025 included front-of-house plantings to increase curb appeal, creating vegetable gardens, and adding outdoor lighting. Respondents listed time as the number one barrier to gardening more.
According to the Garden Media Group, in 2026 consumers are looking to do business with brands that make an impact. Brands that support local initiatives see an 85% increase in trust.
Pets are also influencing outdoor spaces — 70% of gardeners own pets, and nearly half of pet owners already have dedicated outdoor spaces for their pets. Homeowners and renters are factoring pets into their outdoor designs in a trend dubbed 'barkitecture.'
The Employment Outlook: A Half-Million Worker Deficit
The defining narrative for outdoor construction employers is an intense talent crisis. The industry is building faster than it can hire.
U.S. Construction Labor Gap at a Glance
499,000
Net New Workers NeededIndustry total
82%
of Firms Reporting Craft Labor ShortagesAcross the industry
20%
of the Existing Workforce Over Age 55Retirement wave ahead
Industry Reports & Resources
ASLA — Construction Workforce StabilityAmerican Society of Landscape Architects: research and analysis on workforce trends, labor gaps, and the future of the construction and landscape industry.
CareerOneStop — Landscaping & Groundskeeping WagesU.S. Department of Labor salary finder: explore wages for landscaping and groundskeeping workers by state, experience level, and job title.
BLS — Occupational Employment & Wages: Landscaping Workers (May 2023)Bureau of Labor Statistics official wage data for Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers (SOC 37-3011), including national and state-level pay percentiles.
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