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The Changing Landscape of Farm Labor Conditions in the United States: What the Future Holds and How to Prepare for It

This symposium, held September 17 to 19, 2024 was supported by the USDA Economic Research Service and Farm Foundation. It was held at the Hilton Santa Cruz/Scotts Valley. The findings and conclusions in the presentations are those of the author(s) and should not be construed to represent any official USDA or U.S. Government determination or policy.

Kelly Maguire, assistant administrator, USDA ERS addresses the symposium audience.
Kelly Maguire, assistant administrator with USDA ERS addresses the symposium audience.

 

Symposium Outputs

Background

Farm labor is of great importance to U.S. agriculture. In 2022, labor accounted for an estimated 16 percent of variable expenses—and 44 percent for producers of fruit, vegetables, or nuts. That same year hired farm labor corresponded to an annual average of 1.1 million full-time and part-time jobs, with an average wage of $16.62 per hour. U.S. agricultural employers have long relied on foreign-born farmworkers to meet their hired labor needs, and in recent years, such workers have become harder to find. Although critical to the Nation’s food security, farm work is potentially hazardous, farmworkers receive lower wages when compared with nonsupervisory workers outside agriculture, and many hired farm workers lack legal work authorization and access to basic public services. For the United States to remain competitive as a producer of fruit, vegetables, and other labor-intensive commodities both private and government institutions will need to accelerate adaptation to a changing landscape of farm labor.

Priorities and Goals

The symposium aimed to convene and develop a network of researchers and stakeholders to engage in a productive discussion focused on farm labor issues. A primary goal of the symposium was to strengthen and enhance ongoing farm labor research, focusing on four key themes:

  1. Trends in the farm labor force—including presentations on worker migration and the H-2A Temporary Agricultural Program
  2. Labor costs—including presentations on the effects of H-2A AEWR and overtime laws on farmworkers
  3. Farm worker conditions—including presentations on a) workplace safety; b) effects of climate change on worker health; c) workplace harassment
  4. Workforce development—trends in training current farmworkers and a new generation to develop, operate, and repair new technologies in the field and lead packing operations

 

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