The Landscape Institute (LI) has published major new research into the UK’s landscape workforce and skills, warning that urgent action is needed to strengthen the talent pipeline, raise the profession’s profile and ensure the country can deliver climate-resilient, high-quality development.
Commissioned research undertaken by Metro Dynamics for the LI provides comprehensive analysis of both the landscape sector and the skills and education pipeline for landscape architects.
The findings paint a picture of a sector that is growing quickly and delivering significant value to the UK economy yet facing deep structural pressures that could limit its future impact.
The study confirms that the landscape economy is growing across the sector, especially in build, planning and research.
Yet beneath this positive expansion are warning signs: declining numbers of businesses in professional sub-sectors such as design and conservation, significant skills shortages and mounting pressure on the education pipeline that supplies the next generation of professionals.
At the same time, the research highlights the vital role that landscape professionals play in shaping sustainable, future-focused places. The LI is now calling for a stronger national focus to be placed on a landscape-led approach to development, putting landscape expertise at the heart of design and planning from the outset of projects. This approach creates resilient, vibrant places where people, places and nature thrive, while delivering long-term economic, environmental and social value.
With the UK facing competing demands on land from housing, infrastructure, climate adaptation and nature recovery, the LI argues that engaging landscape professionals early in the development process maximises benefits, improves health and wellbeing, strengthens communities and builds climate resilience.
Yet the research warns that the profession’s ability to deliver these outcomes is under strain. Many employers find it difficult to recruit graduates, with technical and digital skills in high demand. At the same time, universities are facing enrolment pressures and financial challenges, creating a growing disconnect between education and employment.
A pressing concern is the vulnerability of the domestic talent pipeline. The sector relies heavily on international graduates; without stronger domestic recruitment, the profession risks weakening long-term capacity. The study also shows that despite the central role that landscape architecture plays in climate resilience, placemaking and wellbeing, public understanding of the profession remains limited.
Flexible and inclusive entry routes are identified as essential to widening participation and strengthening the workforce. However, rising tuition fees and living costs may deter entry into higher education, compounded by lower acceptance rates for applicants from socioeconomically disadvantaged areas. This is further exacerbated by limited awareness of careers in the sector. The Landscape Institute is pursuing multiple channels and collaborative opportunities to raise awareness of the profession and recognises the need to expand pathways into the sector, including the promotion of apprenticeships and work-based learning.
The research also highlights fragile capacity in public sector and heritage organisations, where recruitment challenges and low pay are leaving critical gaps at a time of rising demand for expertise in conservation, planning and climate adaptation.
Carolin Göhler FLI, President of the Landscape Institute, comments: “The landscape profession now stands at a pivotal moment. Demand for landscape expertise is growing rapidly as the UK seeks to deliver net-zero targets, build over a million new homes and restore nature. Yet without sustained investment in education, workforce development and professional collaboration, the sector risks being unable either to meet that demand or to deliver the quality that people and nature deserve.
“Looking ahead, the Landscape Institute will use the findings to strengthen the evidence base for the economic value of landscape, deepen engagement with members, work with universities and employers to align training with industry needs, and promote landscape architecture as an early career choice across the UK.”
The research shows that the landscape sector’s future depends on its practitioners. By strengthening the talent pipeline and embedding landscape expertise at the heart of development, the UK can unlock greater value from land, create healthier communities and deliver places that support both people and the planet.
