Labor shortage is one of the most pressing challenges facing green industry companies, and it has been for a long time. In “Staying Rooted: 2025 State of the Green Industry Report” published by Green Industry Pros, 29% of survey respondents listed “Labor depletion” as their top concern (placing it second on the report’s list, right behind “Economic forces”). One respondent said labor shortages have been his company’s #1 challenge for the past 15 years.
In another survey conducted by the National Association of Landscape Professionals, almost 80% of the surveyed landscaping companies said that they have trouble finding people to hire. Despite a robust industry and good job outlooks, it is challenging to fill open positions. There are many reasons for this labor depletion, and it’s something all lawn and landscaping companies are likely to face.
One way to help relieve the pressure of labor shortages is with smarter, easier-to-use equipment. Better equipment can make it easier for smaller crews to handle more work, and it might also make the job more attractive to potential applicants.
Reduce Training Time With User-Friendly Features
When you do find someone to hire, user-friendly equipment can help reduce training time. Less time training means more time that everyone can work on customer yards. Features like auto-choke engines and push-button start systems make it easier for people who don’t have experience working with lawn and landscaping equipment to get used to the gasoline-powered tools your company uses.
Also, look for ergonomic features like shoulder harnesses for hand tools and anti-vibration systems. Features that make the equipment easier and less tiring to use make training new employees simpler. It’s also less of a learning curve for them.
Multi-Tools for Smaller Crews
Multi-tool systems let outdoor professionals save space on trucks or equipment trailers and cut down on maintenance. You’ll only have to maintain and store one powerhead to power multiple attachments. For example, if you have three trucks and need a blower, trimmer, and edger in each truck, you could either have 3 powerheads and 9 attachments or 9 separate pieces of equipment.
Use of multi-tool systems is a trend that Peter Bigwood, general manager of Mecalac North America, and Lee Smith, director of product strategy at Bobcat Co., both say they’re noticing as green industry professionals gravitate toward versatile and/or attachment-ready systems (Green Industry Pro interview). For large crews working together on the same property, only having one powerhead can be a downside because only one person can use the tool at a time. But if you’re working with smaller crews, using multi-tools means you need fewer specialized operators.
Light-Weight Tools For Ease of Use
Lawn and landscaping work is often viewed as challenging and physically demanding. Supplying lightweight, safe, easy-to-use tools may help attract a wider range of applicants to your job postings. Diversifying your applicant pool is one of the ways experts recommend to face the challenge of labor shortages.
There’s a growing push (at least in some areas) to start switching over to battery-powered equipment instead of gasoline-powered equipment. While many green industry companies will still prefer the power and easy refueling that gasoline equipment provides, battery equipment does have some perks. In addition to the environmentally-friendly aspect, battery-powered equipment is lightweight and easy to use. Plus, there can be significant cost savings associated with handheld battery-powered tools, making them a good choice for professional lawn and landscaping.
Optimize With Technology
New technology advances, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), are transforming the modern world. We often hear about how AI will change white collar jobs, but AI and other technology innovations can also play a role in the green industry. You’ll just want to strike a balance in what you automate and what you do personally. In customer service, for example, many customers appreciate being able to pay their bills or schedule service online or through an app. However, if they have questions or concerns, they’ll want to be able to easily contact a real person.
Business management software such as LMN (Landscape Management Network) and RealGreen by WorkWave helps streamline and optimize scheduling, estimates, and time tracking, and more. You can use software to automate a lot of your back-office processes, too, freeing up time to focus on core business activities. A lot of these modern software tools utilize AI to add additional smart automation features, though that’ll depend on the exact software you choose.
Outsource Your Maintenance Locally
Routine, preventative maintenance for commercial lawn equipment helps prevent costly downtime for repairs. Some tasks are relatively quick and simple for crews to do daily (like cleaning mower decks at the end of the day), weekly (like checking lubrication points), or monthly (like cleaning air filters). For larger maintenance tasks or repairs, though, it might not be an efficient use of your crew’s time to have them working on the equipment.
When you work with a local dealership like Richardson Saw & Lawnmower, support doesn’t end with the sale. Our service department can take care of routine maintenance and necessary repairs for the outdoor equipment that’s essential to your green industry business. We do all our repairs in-house and stock one of the largest parts inventories in North Texas, so we can provide a quick turnaround. Our technicians are all factory-trained and industry certified.
If you’re looking for innovative, commercial-grade lawn and landscaping equipment and reliable local equipment repairs, come visit Richardson Saw. We work with a lot of green industry professionals and understand the unique challenges you face. We’ll be happy to work with you to find equipment that meets your needs.
