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.