The U.S. Department of Labor is seeking input from florists to capture more information about floral designers, an effort that could help promote the occupation to prospective employees and aid in the promotion and growth of the industry.
The Occupational Information Network (O*NET), a resource provided by the Department of Labor, is seeking information from florists to update its classification of the floral designer occupation. As the nation’s most comprehensive source of occupational data, O*NET is a free resource for millions of job seekers, employers, veterans, educators and students to learn about thousands of occupations. O*NET’s request for information is an opportunity for florists to ensure their profession is accurately represented to job seekers.
O*NET is seeking information including job descriptions, alternate titles, and examples of tasks performed by employees in the position. O*NET hopes to capture the complexity and nuance of the floral designer profession, which is crucial in promoting jobs and careers within the floral industry.
“Promoting careers in the floral industry is top of mind for the Society of American Florists and its partner, Seed Your Future — and it should be top of mind for every florist, too” says Kate Delaney, SAF’s director of career development. “This could go a long way to help the industry.”
O*NET’s survey is one of two recent initiatives to gather information about careers in the floral industry. In 2023, Seed your Future and the American Floral Endowment conducted a salary survey, which gathered valuable data on positions, pay, and benefits within the industry.
To provide information for O*NET, contact O*NET data collection contractor Constance Bite at cbite@onet.rti.or and provide your full name, title, company name, phone number, email address and mailing address.
Amanda Jedlinsky is the senior director of content and communications for the Society of American Florists.
