groundsman/groundswoman
Role lens
Enjoy working outdoors and creating beautiful spaces? As a groundsman/groundswoman, you’ll be responsible for maintaining the health and appearance of landscapes, ensuring parks, sports fields, and gardens are thriving and welcoming.
Groundsmen/groundswomen are skilled professionals who keep outdoor areas looking their best. Your day might involve mowing lawns, planting flowers, trimming hedges, and ensuring irrigation systems are functioning correctly. You’ll work across various settings, including private residences, commercial properties, schools, hotels, botanical gardens, golf courses, and public parks. This role requires a combination of practical skills, attention to detail, and an understanding of plant care.
- • Mowing, edging, and maintaining lawns and turf.
- • Planting and cultivating flowers, shrubs, and trees.
- • Controlling weeds, pests, and diseases using appropriate methods.
Where this occupation is in demand
Reported labour shortages and surpluses, by year. Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.
Deeper colour: reported the same way in more consecutive years.
Figures cover Market-oriented skilled agricultural workers — 27 jobs including this one.
In shortage: Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Greece and 5 more.
Longest-running shortage: Netherlands, 4 years.
Select a place on the map to see its figures.
About this source›
Source: ELA/EURES labour shortages and surpluses. Readings are published at occupation-group level, and cover Europe. Editions differ in annex layout and country coverage, so a change between years does not always mean the labour market changed. Countries in grey were not reported, which is not the same as being in balance.
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Could groundsman/groundswoman fit you?
Answer three quick questions. This is not a full assessment — it is a teaser to help you decide whether to compare your profile.
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Do you enjoy tasks that require Achievement/Effort?
Future Outlook for groundsman/groundswoman
The outlook for groundsman/groundswoman reflects a balanced mix of automation exposure and durable, human-led work.
How are these scores calculated?
The Resilience Score (0–100) estimates how structurally protected this occupation is from automation and AI disruption, based on task-level analysis. Higher scores mean more human-judgment-intensive tasks. AI Exposure shows the estimated percentage of task hours that current AI capabilities could affect. These are model-derived structural indicators, not predictions about individual job security.
How could groundsman/groundswoman change as AI adoption grows?
This role is likely to change gradually, with AI supporting selected tasks rather than replacing the whole occupation.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
How could groundsman/groundswoman change as AI adoption grows?
This role is likely to change gradually, with AI supporting selected tasks rather than replacing the whole occupation.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
How AI may change this role
Deterministic, model-based interpretation of current role signals — not a guarantee of replacement.
What still depends on people
- perform pest control
- execute disease and pest control activities
- prepare site for construction
Where AI may become a co-pilot
- monitor water quality
- transport physical resources within the work area
- prepare the ground
Tasks most exposed to automation
- estimate consumption of water
Vital Signs & AI Vectors
AI Exposure Vectors
0-100%Exposure to physical automation, robotics, and sensor-driven task displacement
Exposure to AI-assisted analysis, pattern recognition, and predictive modelling tasks
Exposure to content generation, creative augmentation, and large language model tools
Exposure to workflow automation, decision-support software, and process digitisation
Technical Details
NexFuture v3.0 estimates automation exposure natively from ESCO essential-skill groups, weighted by skill mass and calibrated against expert anchors. Scores are probabilistic estimates, not guarantees. See the NexFuture Methodology White Paper for full details.
Measures automation exposure. It does not measure pay, demand, or how many jobs exist near you.
What people in this role usually do
Agriculture
A typical day as a groundsman/groundswoman
09 09:00 · Morning plan sports areas
10 10:30 · Mid-morning prepare building site
12 12:00 · Midday construct greens and grounds
14 14:00 · Afternoon estimate consumption of water
15 15:30 · Late afternoon execute disease and pest control activities
17 17:00 · Wrap-up maintain turf and grass
Task order is illustrative. Individual days vary.
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horticulture principles
The standard horticultural practices, including but not limited to planting, pruning, corrective pruning, and fertilisation.
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plant disease control
Types and features of diseases in plants and crops. Different kinds control methods, activities using conventional or biological methods taking into account the type of plant or crop, environmental and climate conditions and health and safety regulations. Storage and handling of products.
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plant species
The variety of plants, trees and shrubs and their special characteristics.
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principles of landscape construction
Principles and techniques to prepare ground or site for construction of wooden and brick terraces, fences and ground surfaces. This includes knowlege on how to measure and plan out the site, lay stone and tiles.
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soil structure
Diversity of soil elements and types of soil in relation to plant growth.
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turf management
The different techniques for planting and maintenance of turf according to the type of surfaces and materials used.
- ecology
- environmental legislation in agriculture and forestry
- pest control in plants
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prepare the ground
Prepare the ground for laying turf or seeding by clearing the area, choosing the optimal soil, choosing the ground deepness and the appropriate fertilisers.
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prepare sites for planting of grass
Prepare lawn areas by spreading top soil and planting grass, and by laying instant turf.
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maintain turf and grass
Establish and maintain fine turf, grassed fields, and synthetic surfaces for sports events. Ensure a pleasant appearance of the property grounds.
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perform weed control operations
Carry out crop spraying for weeds and plant disease operations in line with National industry and customer requirements.
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spray pesticides
Spray pesticide solutions to keep insects, fungus, weed growth, and diseases under control.
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maintain landscape site
Maintain the site by mowing, applying fertiliser, controlling weed, aerating, trimming and pruning. Perform clean-ups according to needs and requirements.
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perform pest control
Carry out crop spraying pest and disease operations in line with National industry and customer requirements. Carry out slurry and fertiliser spreading in accordance with local environmental regulations
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execute disease and pest control activities
Execute disease and pest control activities using conventional or biological methods taking into account the climate, plant or crop type, health and safety and environmental regulations. Store and handle pesticides in accordance with recomandation and legislation.
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prepare building site
Draw up building plans and prepare building sites for erecting buildings or other structures.
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plan sports areas
Carry out an initial survey which identifies the type, function and required dimensions of the sports area. Produce accurate plans which are consistent with the rules of the sport. Ensure the positioning and dimensions of the sports area are consistent with the rules of the sport and the function, use and safety of the site.
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prepare site for construction
Prepare ground or site for construction of wooden and brick terraces, fences and ground surfaces. This includes measure and plan out the site, lay stone and tiles.
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transport physical resources within the work area
Transport physical resources such as products, equipment, materials, and liquids. Carefully load, transport and unload resources safely and efficiently, keeping the load in good condition.
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handling chemical products for soil and plants
Handling chemical products for soil and plants includes cleaning the equipment used for spreading and spraying, mixing of chemicals, preparing pesticides and herbicides for spraying, preparing fertilisers for spreading.
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use gardening equipment
Use gardening equipment such as clippers, sprayers, mowers, chainsaws, complying to health and safety regulations.
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maintain turf management equipment
Install and service equipment like nets, posts and protective covers for sports and recreation purposes.
Skill DNA
Work personality traits and values that define this role
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Where does groundsman/groundswoman fit?
Similarity scores based on skill overlap from ESCO data.
Frequently asked questions
- What kind of physical demands are involved in being a groundsman/groundswoman?
- This role is physically demanding, requiring prolonged standing, walking, bending, and lifting. You'll be working outdoors in various weather conditions, so stamina and physical fitness are essential.
- Do I need a formal education to become a groundsman/groundswoman?
- While a formal degree isn't always required, vocational training or apprenticeships in horticulture or groundskeeping can provide a strong foundation. Many groundsmen/groundswomen learn through on-the-job experience.
- What are the typical working conditions like?
- You’ll primarily work outdoors, often exposed to the elements. The work schedule can vary depending on the season and the specific location, with potential for early mornings or weekend work to maintain grounds.
- Groundsman/Groundswoman — is there a shortage in Europe?
- Yes. In the 2025 ELA/EURES edition, a shortage was reported in 9 of the 16 European countries that assessed this occupation group: Belgium, Denmark, Greece, Finland and 5 more. Netherlands has reported one for 4 consecutive years. These assessments are published per occupation group rather than per job title.
- Groundsman/Groundswoman — what does it pay in the United States?
- $38,090 a year at the median, as of 2025-05. State medians run from $21,910 to $48,790. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is a United States figure and not a projection for Europe.