HOPEWELL, N.Y. — Shawn Kenaley fell in love with teaching eight years ago. 

His class at Finger Lakes Community College focuses on identifying woody plants. It includes a pop quiz and heading outside to examine trees around campus. 

“If we can’t identify woody plants or plants in general, we’re not that good [of] horticulturists," said Kenaley.

Having good horticulturists enter the profession is crucial. According to the 2023 Global Green Skills report, job postings for "green" jobs are growing nearly twice as fast as the number of workers with the skills to fill them. 

Jazmin Albarran is the executive director of Seed Your Future, a non-profit that highlights the green careers available to students, parents and teachers across the country. 

“Think of professions from agriculture engineer to biochemist or drone specialist. Soil technician or plant pathologist," said Albarran.

In the next five to 10 years, Albarran expects an even greater demand to fill horticulture positions, as the current workforce starts to retire. 

“They can add innovative new ideas from this generation that is so tech-heavy so we can make sure this industry moves forward," said Albarran. 

Some of these students are just getting started in their horticulture careers, but Kenaley can’t wait to see where they end up. 

“If I can help them ever so slightly to get to their end goal, that’s what I’m here to do," said Kenaley.