Job Prospects... At a glance
Job prospects for florists are average. This occupation is not projected to grow, but as older workers retire, there should be possibilities for some new florists. A florist’s income tends to be quite low.
Florists make floral arrangements and sell flowers. Some also go out on locations and decorate with flowers.
There are no entry requirements to work as a florist. However, there are options for florists who want to get qualified, or people who are looking to get into the industry with a qualification.
The Primary ITO offers a National Certificate in Floristry at Levels 2 and level 4. These are offered to people already employed as florists and rely mostly on on-the-job training.
A few polytechnics also offer qualifications in floristry. These are mainly for students who are looking to become florists and want to increase their chances of finding a job by getting a qualification. Manukau Institute of Technology offers a New Zealand Certificate in Floristry (Levels 2, 3 and 4). Wintec offers a Certificate in Floristry Practice (Level 3). The Southern Institute of Technology offers a New Zealand Certificate in Floristry (Level 2), and a Certificate in Commercial Floristry (Level 3). The shortest of these courses lasts for 18 weeks, and the longest a year.
The New Zealand Apprenticeships scheme is available for anyone over the age of 16, and is subsidised by the government. More information on the scheme is on the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) website.
TEC: www.tec.govt.nz/teo/working-with-teos/itos/new-zealand-apprenticeships
| National Certificate in Floristry (Level 4) |
|---|
| $1,568 |
Completing a National Certificate in Floristry (Level 4) through the Primary ITO costs around $1,600 in fees. There may be additional costs. Students who do this training can earn money while they are training for a qualification, as most training is on the job.
Studying at a polytechnic will usually be more expensive than training through the ITO (although note that some polytechnics may have zero fees schemes). Polytechnics are a good option for prospective florists who are finding it hard to get employment without a qualification.
Rents vary from place to place. Estimated market rents by region, city and suburb are available on the MBIE Tenancy Services website.
The StudyLink website provides general budget advice for students, and the Sorted website provides help with detailed budget planning.
Tenancy Services: www.tenancy.govt.nz/rent-bond-and-bills
StudyLink: www.studylink.govt.nz
Sorted: www.sorted.org.nz/calculators/money-planner
The Industry Training Organisation (ITO) that looks after training for florists is the Primary ITO. It arranges training with employers nationwide.
Floristry can also be studied at the Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) in Invercargill, Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT) in Auckland, and Waikato institute of Technology (WINTEC) in Hamilton.
Primary ITO: https://primaryito.ac.nz/train-me/training-we-offer/floristry
SIT: www.sit.ac.nz/Courses/Agriculture-Horticulture-Floristry
WINTEC: www.wintec.ac.nz/study-at-wintec/courses
MIT: www.manukau.ac.nz/study-options/areas-of-study
The number of students completing a Level 1, 2 or 3 certificate in the broader category ‘Visual Arts & Crafts’ annually has fluctuated recently. Although this category includes more than florists, it indicates that the supply of new qualified florists can vary from year to year.
Qualification completions chart
Source: Ministry of Education
The annual income for florists is estimated to be around $26,000. This low income is an indication that part-time work is common in this occupation. New florists are likely to start out on or close to the minimum wage.
| Estimated Average Income |
|---|
| $26,000 |
Source: MBIE estimates based on Statistics NZ Census and Labour Cost Index
Florists’ employment
| Historic | Projected Growth | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 2013 | 2020 | 2025 |
| 1,467 | 1,188 | 1,299 | 1,294 |
| -3.0% | 1.3% | -0.1% | |
Source: Statistics NZ Census and MBIE projections. Percentages are compound annual growth rates.
* Growth projections are based on the category “Horticultural Trades Workers”.
From 2006 to 2013, the number of florists in employment decreased by almost 3% yearly. Employment numbers are expected to be increase by around 1.3% until 2020, and then be relatively stable for the next few years.
Employment chart
Source: Statistics NZ Census and MBIE projections
| Overseas | In further study | Receiving a benefit | In employment | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5% | 54% | 11% | 29% | $27,700 |
Source: Ministry of Education.
*Two years after completion of L1, 2 or 3 Certificate - Visual Arts & Crafts.
‘Overseas’ refers to the percentage of ALL graduates completing this qualification. Other indicators refer only to graduates living in New Zealand.
Two years after completing a certificate in visual arts or crafts, most graduates are in further study. A comparatively small proportion is in employment or overseas two years after completing their certificate. Quite a few are receiving a benefit. The median salary two years after completion was around $27,700. Note that these numbers are for a wider category, and employment numbers for florists might be higher, as it is one of the more employment focused areas of study within the visual arts and crafts category.
Florists are not on Immigration New Zealand's skill shortage lists.
Immigration NZ, skill shortage list: skillshortages.immigration.govt.nz
Florist vacancies are advertised through websites such as TradeMe Jobs and Seek.
TradeMe Jobs: www.trademe.co.nz/jobs
Seek: www.seek.co.nz
Florists usually work in florist shops, supermarkets, or flower growers. As florists gain experience, they can be given more responsibility in the job. Some florists go on to establish their own florist shops.
The following occupations are related roles or alternative titles. Some of the roles may require a higher level of skill than entry-level florists.
More information on florists is available on the Careers New Zealand website and through the "Just the Job" video.
Careers New Zealand: www.careers.govt.nz
Just the Job video clip: A Career in Floristry
The Australian New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) is the official classification of occupations in New Zealand.
The occupation of florists has been coded to the following ANZSCO code for the purpose of this report:
3621 – Florists