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Estimating Costs of Employing Citrus Harvesters through the H-2A Guest Worker Program

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Listed:
  • Roka, Fritz
  • Farnsworth, Derek
  • Simnitt, Skyler

Abstract

A steadily increasing number of foreign agricultural workers are being hired through the H-2A visa program. This paper outlines important components of the H-2A program as a discussion of two sections – pre-employment hiring and management during the contract period. A 2014 survey of Florida citrus harvesting companies gathered cost data on the pre-employment components, which include filing fees, visa costs, advertising, bond payments, in-country worker recruitment, in-bound and out-bound transportation from Mexico, and housing rental costs. Pre-employment/hiring costs were estimated to be more than $1,900 per worker with housing and travel costs responsible for 60 and 20% of total costs, respectively. The paper describes how the H-2A program changes the employment status of workers with the resulting consequences on how H-2A workers are managed differently than domestic workers. More research is needed to estimate the net financial implications to employers when they shift from domestic to H-2A workers.

Suggested Citation

  • Roka, Fritz & Farnsworth, Derek & Simnitt, Skyler, 2017. "Estimating Costs of Employing Citrus Harvesters through the H-2A Guest Worker Program," 2017 Annual Meeting, February 4-7, 2017, Mobile, Alabama 252784, Southern Agricultural Economics Association.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:saea17:252784
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.252784
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Guan, Zhengfei & Wu, Feng & Roka, Fritz & Whidden, Alicia, 2015. "Agricultural Labor and Immigration Reform," Choices: The Magazine of Food, Farm, and Resource Issues, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 30(4), pages 1-9.
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