If you’re like most of the good folks I meet in the lawn and landscape industry, you probably think these kids today ain’t worth the dirt on their boots.
You say they don’t wanna work. Don’t wanna sweat. Don’t wanna show up on time. And Lord knows, they don’t wanna stay off their phones.
But hold up a minute, y’all. What if I told you the problem ain’t just the kids? What if the problem is… they don’t know what you know?
Let me explain.
Gallup Just Slapped Us With the Truth
There’s a brand-spankin’ new report from Gallup and the Walton Family Foundation called “Voices of Gen Z: Limited Awareness of Non-College Pathways.”
And it hits harder than a weed whip on full throttle.
Here’s the headline: Only 15% of Gen Z youth say they’re “very familiar” with non-college job paths.
That means 85% of ‘em don’t even know you—and thousands of other contractors like you—exist as a legitimate, honorable, and profitable career option.
Most of them think their choices after high school are either:
- Go to college and rack up debt, or
- Work retail and ride the hamster wheel.
Nobody’s told them about irrigation techs, hardscape installers, equipment operators, or foremen. Nobody’s taught them how green industry pros can earn six figures without a degree. Nobody’s explained how YOU built your business from scratch with calluses and courage.
That, my friends, is the real crisis. Your story needs to be shared with youth!
Your Internship Program Might Save a Life
Now let me get to preachin’.
You think you’re just hiring a teenager to help edge the walkways and clean up mulch beds. But what you’re really doing is giving a young person vision. You’re showing ‘em an option they didn’t even know existed. After all, less than 2% of the USA population is an EMPLOYER…so kids could learn a lot from YOU!
And according to Gallup’s report, 56% of Gen Z say they’d be more likely to choose a non-college path if someone helped them understand what careers are available and how to get there.
You—yes, YOU—are that someone.
When you create an internship or hire a student for summer help, you’re offering more than a paycheck. You’re offering guidance, exposure, and opportunity. You’re offering purpose.
Don’t Wait for the School System
Here’s the part that might ruffle some feathers. The schools ain’t doing it. The report found that only 23% of high schoolers had participated in any kind of non-college training or pathway exploration.
That means if you’re waiting for the guidance counselor to send you their best kids, you might be waitin’ till next season… or next lifetime.
The most successful landscape companies are the ones who go out and shake the bushes:
- They show up at career days.
- They invite kids to test drive a job through an internship
- They create flexible part-time jobs that work around class and football practice.
And when they do? They (guys like me and perhaps you) find diamonds in the rough. Young people with grit, energy, and a willingness to learn—just waiting for someone to say, “Come on, let’s go to work. WE can teach you how to be a success.”
From Mower to Manager
You wanna build a team that lasts?
Start young.
I’ve had high school interns who went on to become crew leaders, estimators, even managers. You show ‘em the ropes early, and some of ‘em will never leave you. Others might move on, but they’ll always remember the opportunity you gave ‘em.
And hey, if one outta five sticks, that’s still a 20% win rate—much better odds than hiring off Craigslist!
A Final Word to the Skeptics
Now I can hear the excuses rollin’ in.
“But Tony… they’re part-time. They leave for school in the fall.”
You’re dang right. That’s how it works. School’s their primary job. You knew that when you hired them.
That’s why I teach in my book—and I’ll say it again now—always be recruiting, then teaching.
You aren’t hiring machines. You’re shaping lives. That’s the burden—and the blessing—of being an employer.
Ready to Lead?
If you’re serious about solving your employee problem, then quit whining and get to work.
Start an internship program. Host a high school job tour. Hand out job flyers at the local ballgame or buy the banner that hangs on the fence at the stadium with an ad for “High-Paying Jobs for Students”. Tell your story. Offer them a chance to learn from you and your team.
And if you don’t know where to start?
Get my book: The Landscaper’s Guide to Finding, Hiring and Keeping Great Employees
You’ll get the book, hiring scripts, job descriptions, policy templates, training videos—and even a one-on-one call with me.
You can keep griping… or you can start winning. The choice is yours.
—Tony Bass, proud employer, internship provider and youth promoter
866-923-0027
PS – It may be the world’s most valuable skill…that skill is… YOUR ability to find, hire and retain great employees. So…what are YOU doing to improve that skill right now? Wealth without employees is pretty dang hard to find.
Invest in your education and outlearn your competition. It’s the only way to make certain your business is a success. Here’s a great place to start building your hiring skills: The Landscaper’s Guide to Finding, Hiring and Keeping Great Employees
