Latest Farm Labor Survey Says Where Worker Wage Rates Will Be in 2023
While many were busy with the recent Thanksgiving holiday, USDA released its latest Farm Labor Survey. The semi-annual report includes quarterly estimates of number of hired workers, average hours worked per worker, and average hourly wage rates. A major takeaway from the latest iteration indicates continuous growth in H-2A wage rates amid a market already feeling the weight from increased operating costs.
According to the report, the 2022 all hired worker annual average gross wage rate was $17.56 per hour, up 7% from the 2021 annual average gross wage rate. The 2022 field worker annual average gross wage rate was $16.77 per hour, up 6% from the 2021 annual average. The 2022 livestock worker annual average gross wage rate was $16.29 per hour. The 2022 annual average combined gross wage for field and livestock workers was $16.62, up 7% from the 2021 annual average of $15.56 per hour.
Statistics show every farm labor region and state experienced a higher average wage rate in 2022 and thus will have a higher AEWR in 2023. Florida had the largest percentage increase at 15.5%. The Lake region (Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin) had the largest increase in dollar terms – $1.97 per hour. In 2022, California had the highest overall wage rate at $18.65 per hour.
For more details about the Farm Labor Survey, continue reading at GrowingProduce.com.
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