Nursery, Turf and Gardening Data challenges for the Sports Turf workforce

What data do we generally use to show the workforce for industries?

At the inception of Workforce Development Councils (WDCs), industries were divided between WDCs based on Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) class codes¹ that are set out in our Orders in Council² Muka Tangata was given 61 ANZSIC class codes (out of around 500 class codes) which we grouped into our 14 industry groupings.

The ANZSIC codes are used by Stats NZ for standardised collection, analysis, and dissemination of economic data on an industry basis. While ANZSIC class codes are the most detailed industry classification available, these classifications vary in their precision. Some industries are well covered by ANZSIC class codes and others are not. This can mean it is difficult to obtain information for some industries, such as sports turf, from existing data sources.

As Stats NZ data is highly trusted and reliable, available for a range of useful indicators and updated regularly, we try to use this as a data source where possible. We then form the basis for other available data collections, such as workforce data produced by the Ministry for Primary Industries and commercially available industry forecasts.

What are the challenges with using industry codes for the Sports Turf workforce?

Sports Turf isn’t visible as a dedicated ANZSIC code.

The biggest challenge with using ANZSIC data to represent industries is that not all industries line up well with this classification system.

Within the ANZSIC system there is no dedicated code for ‘Sports Turf’. Muka Tangata has been allocated the code for A011300³: Turf Growing – however this is a very specific subset of the activities that might be considered part of ‘Sports Turf’.

Sports Turf activities are spread across multiple industry codes – and across different Workforce Development Councils.

If we look up business industry classifications⁴ for sports turf, it will tell us that businesses whose primary activity it is to deliver turf management services sit in the ANZSIC code N731300⁵ for ‘Gardening services’ (which includes a lot of activities like garden maintenance service, gardening service, lawn care service, lawn mowing service, maintenance of plants and shrubs in buildings). This broader industry sits with both Muka Tangata and Ringa Hora WDC.

Sport and Physical Recreation Clubs and Sports Professionals (R911200) and Sports and Physical Recreation Venues, Grounds and Facilities Operation (R911300) ANZSIC codes come under Toi Mai WDC’s remit.

Businesses whose primary activity it is to lay or install artificial or natural turf on sports fields sit in ANZSIC E310900⁶ Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction (but this is just one of 20+ activities captured). This area sits with Waihanga Ara Rau.

Businesses whose primary activity it is to grow turf for transplanting sit in A011300⁷ Turf Growing. Muka Tangata have this code – but it is very specific, and few outlets would specialise in this as their primary activity.

Could you just use occupation classification codes instead?

ANZSCO occupation codes provide more information, but there are still challenges.

Stats NZ also classify some data related to individuals (as opposed to businesses) by occupation using ANZSCO.

There isn’t a specific occupation code for ‘Sports Turf’ workers in Aotearoa. ‘Greenkeepers’⁸ are considered a good proxy for many of those working in this sector. However, some of those with the occupations ‘Landscape Gardener’, ‘Gardener’ and ‘Garden Labourer’ might also consider themselves as working as part of the Sports Turf industry.

There are also challenges to using occupation data to track an industry workforce. This kind of data is captured at a national level (primarily during the census), but less frequently than industry classification data.

What can we say about the ‘greenkeeper’ workforce?

From the 2018 census, there are 3,354 greenkeepers in Aotearoa.

There are 945 greenkeepers working in industries covered by Toi Mai – mostly in the ‘Sports and physical recreation clubs and sport professionals’ and ‘Sports and physical recreation venues, grounds and facilities operation’ industries. These two industries employ people in lots of different occupations as people are often employed by the venue to manage the grounds (as with horse and dog racing too).

In total, there are 550 ‘greenkeepers’ in Muka Tangata, mostly in Gardening services (~200 – this area is shared with Ringa Hora), Landscape construction (~120) and Horse and dog racing (75).

Ringa Hora has a further 200 in its Accommodation industry and ~120 in Local Government Administration. Toitū te Waiora has ~220 in Secondary Education. There are many greenkeepers in other industries across different sectors.

This presents problems when trying to interpret data that is only available at an ANZSIC level with respect to the Sports Turf workforce. While most of Muka Tangata greenkeeper numbers are in Gardening Services, the ~200 employed here are a minority of the ~9,800 within this industry group. Even in industries where greenkeepers make up the majority, they are mixed in with others who might not consider themselves to be part of Sports Turf (e.g. there are ~600 greenkeepers in the ‘Sports and Physical Recreation Clubs and Sports Professionals, alongside hundreds of sport, gymnastics and swimming coaches as well as office managers, bar attendants and cleaners).

Why does Muka Tangata represent Sports Turf?

Muka Tangata is responsible for qualifications related to Sports Turf.

While the industry codes and those employed in occupations relating to Sports Turf are distributed across multiple WDCs, Muka Tangata holds qualifications relating to the Sports Turf industry. These include:

• New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture (Level 3) with strands in Amenity, Arboriculture, Cemetery, Fruit Production, Indoor Crop Production, Outdoor Crop Production, Landscape Construction, Nursery Production, Post-Harvest, Sports Turf, and Wine Growing
• New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture Services (Level 4) with strands in Amenity, Arboriculture, Cemetery, Landscape Design, Landscape Construction, and Sports Turf
• New Zealand Certificate in Sports Turf (Level 5)
• New Zealand Certificate in Sports Turf (Level 6)

This means that we need to understand the needs of the whole of the Sports Turf industry, the workforce and those undertaking vocational training in this area so that we can be sure that the qualifications are fit for purpose and appropriately funded by TEC.

Where to from here:

We understand that this is not an ideal situation for our industries that are not well captured by the ANZSIC classification system, and we want to work on ways to provide useful information.

We will make it clear on our online WDPs that turf growing is a specific subset and does not refer to the Sports Turf industry. Muka Tangata will also work with industry directly to see if there are better ways to understand data about the Sports Turf workforce.