Job satisfaction during apprenticeship

German horticultural enterprises face increasing difficulties in obtaining and maintaining qualified human resources even with a high rate of unemployment. Two surveys of apprentices' attitudes to being a horticulturist and their job satisfaction were undertaken to explore some hypotheses concerning the reasons for this fact. From November 1994 to February 1995, 79 apprentices of vegetable growing and 224 apprentices of tree nursing were interviewed during their vocational school days. Their perceived job satisfaction is generally high. The vegetable growers, with an extraordinary share of organic producers, are even more satisfied than the tree nursers. Eighty-two percent of the vegetable growers and 72% of the tree nursers would choose the same job again if starting new. After apprenticeship 33% of apprentices in tree nurseries do not want to continue working there. Their reasons are physical strain (57%) and insufficient salaries (53%). Eighty-three percent of all apprentices in tree nurseries complain about the salaries. Changes in managerial practices could increase job satisfaction, namely more appreciation, more responsibility and participation, and support of advanced training and personal education. The status of the vocational horticulturist, and how this job is evaluated by family and friends is judged quite ambiguous by the apprentices. Therefore, professional organizations could do a lot to attract qualified workers to the industry by improving their industiy's image in the society.