NOC 85103 job description: nursery labourer duties and responsibilities
- Prepare soil; plant bulbs, seeds and cuttings; graft and bud plants; and transplant seedlings and rooted cuttings
- Monitor plants for healthy growth and potential weed, insect, disease, and fertilizer problems in greenhouse crops
- Spray trees, shrubs, flowers and plants to prevent disease and pests
- Position and regulate greenhouse and outdoor irrigation systems to water plants and fields
- Dig, cut and transplant trees, shrubs, flowers and plants and prepare them for sale
- Provide information to customers on gardening, the use of various garden tools and products and the care of trees, shrubs, flowers, plants and lawns
- May operate tractors and other machinery and equipment to fertilize, cultivate, harvest and spray fields and plants
- Maintain inventory and order materials as required
- Clean working areas.
Job titles under NOC 85103
See every job title and its code in the A–Z job title index, or all TEER 5 jobs.
Is NOC 85103 eligible for Express Entry?
Not through the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Canadian Experience Class or Federal Skilled Trades Program, which all need TEER 0 to 3. Some provincial nominee streams and federal pilots accept TEER 5 jobs, so check your province's current list.
| Program | TEER check | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Federal Skilled Worker | Not eligible | TEER 5 is outside TEER 0 to 3 |
| Canadian Experience Class | Not eligible | TEER 5 is outside TEER 0 to 3 |
| Federal Skilled Trades | Not a listed trade | Only certain trade groups qualify. Check IRCC |
| Spouse's open work permit | Not eligible | TEER 4 and 5 do not qualify. SOWP rules |
Category-based draws: NOC 85103 is not on any category-based selection list (checked 2026-10-16). Under NOC 2016, TEER 5 was skill level D ("NOC D").
Category-based Express Entry draws and provincial nominee programs use their own occupation lists. Check the current lists on IRCC's Express Entry page and provincial nominee page.
NOC 85103: common questions
What is NOC 85103?
NOC 85103 is the code for nursery and greenhouse labourers in Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC 2021). Its first digit, 8, is the broad category and its second digit, 5, is the TEER level. Immigration forms, job offers and LMIA applications use this five-digit code.
What TEER is NOC 85103?
NOC 85103 is TEER 5. Occupations that usually need a short work demonstration and no formal education. Under the older NOC 2016 system, TEER 5 lines up with skill level D.
Is NOC 85103 eligible for Express Entry and PR?
Not through the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Canadian Experience Class or Federal Skilled Trades Program, which all need TEER 0 to 3. Some provincial nominee streams and federal pilots accept TEER 5 jobs, so check your province's current list.
Is NOC 85103 in a category-based Express Entry draw?
No. As of IRCC's list dated 2026-10-16, NOC 85103 is not in any category-based selection list (healthcare, STEM, trades, education, transport and others). You can still be invited in general and program-specific draws.
Is NOC 85103 eligible for a spousal open work permit (SOWP)?
No. For applications made since January 21, 2025, only TEER 0 and 1 jobs and a list of selected TEER 2 and 3 occupations qualify, and NOC 85103 is not on that list (IRCC page modified 2026-06-12).
What is the NOC code for a nursery labourer?
Nursery labourer is listed under NOC 85103, nursery and greenhouse labourers. The job title alone does not decide your code: your duties should match the main duties of NOC 85103.
How do I know if NOC 85103 is my NOC code?
Compare what you actually do with the main duties listed for NOC 85103, not just your job title. IRCC expects your duties to match the lead statement and most of the main duties of the code you choose. If they fit another code better, use that one. You can paste your duties into nocfinder to see how they line up, duty by duty.
Source: ESDC NOC 2021 · IRCC program pages. Not legal advice.