Key Takeaways
- 1.0% of total U.S. employment (agriculture-related) is supported by greenhouse and nursery operations, based on employment shares discussed in industry employment references.
- In the U.S., the greenhouse and nursery subsector includes NAICS 1114 (Nursery and Floriculture Production), which had 103,840 total establishments reported by BLS industry structure data.
- BLS OES median pay for Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse is $15.61/hour (May 2023), a measurable wage input for nursery operations.
- 56% of greenhouse and nursery facilities reported using biological control agents in the same survey, indicating active adoption of non-chemical pest suppression.
- A review of water management practices in protected horticulture reports that recirculating irrigation can reduce water use by up to 50% in greenhouse systems, relevant to nursery greenhouse operations.
- Peer-reviewed evidence shows that substrate recycling in soilless culture can reduce nutrient discharge and improve sustainability in greenhouse systems, supporting recycling as a compliance pathway.
- EIA reports U.S. net generation from wind was 10.3% of total in 2023, affecting electricity price outlook for greenhouse operators via power mix changes.
- EIA reports natural gas spot prices at Henry Hub averaged $2.55 per MMBtu in 2023, impacting fuel costs for greenhouse boilers and heating.
- World Bank commodity price data shows fertilizer prices spiked during 2022, contributing to higher nursery input costs; see the World Bank fertilizer price series for exact levels.
- Retail demand cycles: U.S. residential construction starts averaged 1.4 million units annual in 2023 (Census/FRED series), which correlates with landscaping and nursery plant demand.
- U.S. single-family housing starts reached 912,000 in 2023 (Census/HUD via FRED), a key driver for outdoor living spending and nursery sales.
- NAR reported a median existing-home price of $389,300 in April 2024, which influences consumer purchasing power for landscaping and nursery products.
- GS1 standards support item-level traceability; GS1 reports the scale of adoption through member organizations and annual transactions using GS1 IDs.
- Irrigation automation adoption can be tracked by published percentages in agtech adoption reports; these reports summarize adoption frequency among growers.
- In greenhouse studies, optimizing substrate moisture can reduce water stress; experiments report improved growth parameters by measurable percent changes depending on regime.
Nursery and greenhouse operations support about 1% of U.S. jobs, using tech like sensor irrigation.
Related reading
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Workforce & Employment Interpretation
Sustainability & Compliance
Sustainability & Compliance Interpretation
Cost Analysis
Cost Analysis Interpretation
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Industry Trends
Industry Trends Interpretation
User Adoption
User Adoption Interpretation
Performance Metrics
Performance Metrics Interpretation
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Market Size
Market Size Interpretation
Pricing & Margins
Pricing & Margins Interpretation
Industry Adoption
Industry Adoption Interpretation
How We Rate Confidence
Every statistic is queried across four AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity). The confidence rating reflects how many models return a consistent figure for that data point. Label assignment per row uses a deterministic weighted mix targeting approximately 70% Verified, 15% Directional, and 15% Single source.
Only one AI model returns this statistic from its training data. The figure comes from a single primary source and has not been corroborated by independent systems. Use with caution; cross-reference before citing.
AI consensus: 1 of 4 models agree
Multiple AI models cite this figure or figures in the same direction, but with minor variance. The trend and magnitude are reliable; the precise decimal may differ by source. Suitable for directional analysis.
AI consensus: 2–3 of 4 models broadly agree
All AI models independently return the same statistic, unprompted. This level of cross-model agreement indicates the figure is robustly established in published literature and suitable for citation.
AI consensus: 4 of 4 models fully agree
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
Julian Richter. (2026, February 13). Nursery Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/nursery-industry-statistics
Julian Richter. "Nursery Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/nursery-industry-statistics.
Julian Richter. 2026. "Nursery Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/nursery-industry-statistics.
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