Landscape Designer
Key facts
Landscape designers design and create outdoor public areas, landmarks, structures, parks, gardens and private gardens to achieve environmental, social-behavioral, or aesthetic outcomes.
Landscape designers are responsible for the planning, design, and management of outdoor environments. Your work involves understanding client needs, site analysis, developing design concepts, and overseeing implementation. You’ll consider factors like environmental sustainability, accessibility, aesthetics, and the intended use of the space. The role often requires collaboration with architects, engineers, and contractors.
- • Conducting site assessments and analyzing environmental conditions.
- • Developing design concepts and detailed plans, including planting schemes, hardscape layouts, and irrigation systems.
- • Preparing presentations and proposals for clients, incorporating feedback and revisions.
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 Science and engineering professionals — 274 jobs including this one.
In shortage: Bulgaria, Finland, Netherlands.
Longest-running shortage: Bulgaria, 2 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.
What these words mean
The four things this section reports
- Reported demand
- Whether employers report needing people in this job — a judgement published by a national or EU body, not a count.
- Where it is heading
- Which way employment in this job is expected to move over the coming years, from an official projection.
- Openings
- Roughly how many openings arise — from growth and from people leaving the job.
- Typical pay
- What people in this job typically earn where the source publishes it. Blank does not mean unpaid; it means nobody publishes it for that place.
A measure is left out when nobody publishes it for that place, rather than shown as zero.
Which way the market leans for you
- In your favour
- More openings than people looking — employers are competing for candidates.
- Balanced
- Openings and candidates are roughly matched.
- Competitive
- More people looking than openings — expect to compete.
- Mixed evidence
- Sources disagree, or the same occupation group is short in one part and oversupplied in another.
Every source resolves to one of these four, so there is a single vocabulary to learn. What differs is the evidence behind it, which is printed underneath each verdict — a measured ratio of openings to jobseekers, or an assessment published by a national body.
How this job compares with other jobs in the same country
- Strong
- Among the strongest in that country
- Good
- Stronger than most jobs in that country
- Mixed
- About typical for that country
- Weak
- Weaker than most jobs in that country
This is a rank within one country, not a score you can carry across borders — the registers behind two countries count different people, so the same number means different things in each. It is also why a job can be among the strongest in a country and still show as Competitive: it leads the field in a market that is crowded overall.
Where these come from
Every figure is published by a national statistics office, a public employment service or an EU body, and each card names its source and the period it covers. Some places are counted monthly, others assessed once or twice a year, so two places on the same map can be describing different moments — the date is always shown.
None of this predicts one person's chances. It describes a market.
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Could landscape designer 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 Dependability?
Future Outlook for landscape designer
The outlook for landscape designer 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 landscape designer 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 landscape designer 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
- inspect project regulations
- advise supervisors
Where AI may become a co-pilot
- perform studies and field investigation
- make drawings
- perform weed control operations
Tasks most exposed to automation
- review construction plans authorisations
Vital Signs & AI Vectors
AI Exposure Vectors
0-100%Exposure to content generation, creative augmentation, and large language model tools
Exposure to AI-assisted analysis, pattern recognition, and predictive modelling tasks
Exposure to physical automation, robotics, and sensor-driven task displacement
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
Arts, Entertainment, & Design
A typical day as a landscape designer
09 09:00 · Morning perform studies and field investigation
10 10:30 · Mid-morning develop architectural plans
12 12:00 · Midday make drawings
14 14:00 · Afternoon advise supervisors
15 15:30 · Late afternoon create landscape designs
17 17:00 · Wrap-up environmental design
Task order is illustrative. Individual days vary.
- 1landscape architectural instruments
The instruments, tools, symbols and terminology of landscape architectural drawing and specifications; the laws and codes pertaining to landscape architecture and design.
- 2landscape architecture
The principles and practices used in the architecture and design of outdoor areas.
- 3plant 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.
- 4surveying methods
The fundamental principles and procedures of surveying applied to civil engineering, including remote sensing methods, and related equipment.
- 5topography
Graphic representation of the surface features of a place or region on a map indicating their relative positions and elevations.
- 6botany
The taxonomy or classification of plant life, phylogeny and evolution, anatomy and morphology, and physiology.
- 7green building practices
The practices involved in the design and creation of building structures in an environmentally responsible, cost effective and resource-effective way. Green building practices such as using eco-friendly construction materials complement classical building practices seeking a sustainable and high-performance building life cycle.
- 8green building standards
The guidelines on how to design and construct sustainable buildings. They follow the criterion of mitigating the environmental impact of buildings while promoting green practices among the occupants.
- design principles
- ecology
- landscape analysis
-
develop architectural plans
Draft a master plan for building sites and landscape plantings. Prepare detailed development plans and specifications in accordance with applicable laws. Analyse private development plans for their accuracy, appropriateness, and compliance with laws.
-
create landscape designs
Use creative ideas to conceptualize landscape projects by making designs, drawings and sketches. These designs consist of parks, highways or walkways and try to create a public functional area.
-
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
-
advise supervisors
Advise supervisor of problems, changes, or suggestions for more effective regulation practice or development activity.
-
perform weed control operations
Carry out crop spraying for weeds and plant disease operations in line with National industry and customer requirements.
-
inspect project regulations
Inspect projects for regulation and specification compliance. Formulate recommendations to existing specifications and plans.
-
perform studies and field investigation
Plan and performs studies and field investigations as required. Inspect landscapes using established techniques and procedures.
-
make drawings
Make technical drawings to scale from sketches, drawings, and verbal instructions.
-
manage landscape design projects
Make preparations for the development of parks, recreation areas and roadside landscaping. Prepare designs, drawings and specifications for such projects and estimate the costs.
Skill DNA
Work personality traits and values that define this role
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Scan to continue on mobilePath to become a landscape designer
What it typically takes to qualify: education level, where it is a regulated profession, and where to study.
Bachelor's or equivalent level
Real programmes leading to this occupation, by country.
Ireland 5
the Netherlands 2
Urbanism
GETUIGSCHRIFT · EQF 7
Urbanism
GETUIGSCHRIFT · EQF 7
Finland 1
Hortonomi (AMK)
Programmes only — this list does not include online courses.
Growth Pathways & Similar Roles
Explore typical career progression paths, adjacent skills, and similar roles to plan your next transition.
Where does landscape designer fit?
Similarity scores based on skill overlap from ESCO data.
Frequently asked questions
- What kind of education or training is typically needed to become a landscape designer?
- While there are no strict requirements, a bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture, landscape design, horticulture, or a related field is common. Many designers also develop their skills through internships and professional experience. A strong portfolio showcasing your design abilities is essential.
- Are landscape designers typically employed or do they work as freelancers?
- This occupation is mostly employee-based, with many landscape designers working for landscape architecture firms, planning agencies, or construction companies. However, freelancing is also a common arrangement, particularly for established designers or those specializing in niche areas like residential garden design.
- How important are environmental considerations in landscape design today?
- Environmental sustainability is increasingly vital. Landscape designers are expected to incorporate eco-friendly practices, such as selecting drought-tolerant plants, using permeable paving materials, and designing for water conservation. Understanding local ecosystems and biodiversity is also crucial.
- Landscape Designer — is there a shortage in Europe?
- No. In the 2025 ELA/EURES edition, a surplus was reported in 6 of the 9 European countries that assessed this occupation group: Austria, Czechia, Denmark, Greece and 2 more. 3 countries reported a shortage. These assessments are published per occupation group rather than per job title.
- Landscape Designer — what does it pay in the United States?
- $79,660 a year at the median, as of 2025-05. State medians run from $50,960 to $101,220. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is a United States figure and not a projection for Europe.