Starting wages for new full-time employees hired during 1996 averaged 6.5% over starting wages for those hired in 1995. New full-time and part-time workers involved in landscape installation and construction were paid 8.3% and 9.5%, respectively more in 1996 than in 1995. Other segments of the industry also increased their starting wages. New full-time garden center workers wete paid 6.8% over 1995 starting wages.