Examining the Growth in Seasonal Agricultural H-2A Labor

by Marcelo Castillo, Skyler Simnitt, Gregory Astill, and Travis Minor

The H-2A Agricultural Guest Worker program allows U.S. agricultural employers to hire foreign workers on a temporary or seasonal basis. The program rapidly expanded over the last decade, with certified H-2A positions increasing by more than 200 percent from 2010-19. This report explores how H-2A usage levels differ by agricultural sector, geography, and by the type of firm requesting workers.

Keywords: Farm labor, H-2A program, immigration, agriculture, guest worker, foreign worker, seasonal labor, labor market, legal status, farm labor contractor, fruit, tree nuts, vegetables, melons, labor supply, Mexico, growers association

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