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Examining the Growth in Seasonal Agricultural H-2A Labor

Author

Listed:
  • Castillo, Marcelo
  • Simnitt, Skyler
  • Astill, Gregory
  • Minor, Travis

Abstract

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Castillo, Marcelo & Simnitt, Skyler & Astill, Gregory & Minor, Travis, 2021. "Examining the Growth in Seasonal Agricultural H-2A Labor," Economic Information Bulletin 327365, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:uersib:327365
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.327365
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Dahye, Kim & Castillo, Marcelo & Rutledge, Zachariah, "undated". "Domestic Farm Employment and the H-2A Visa Program," 2024 Allied Social Sciences Association (ASSA) Annual Meeting, January 5-7, 2024, San Antonio, Texas 339079, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    2. Castillo, Marcello & Martin, Philip & Rutledge, Zachariah, . "The H-2A Temporary Agricultural Worker Program in 2020," Amber Waves:The Economics of Food, Farming, Natural Resources, and Rural America, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service, vol. 2022(Economic ).
    3. Angela Jungbluth & Jungman Choi & K. Aleks Schaefer, 2026. "Farm Labor Protections and Price Premiums for Organic Food," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 48(2), pages 359-370, May.
    4. Escalante, Cesar L. & Cowart, Watson L. & Shonkwiler, Vanessa P., 2023. "Coping with Delayed H-2A Worker Arrivals during the Pandemic," Journal of the ASFMRA, American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers, vol. 2023, January.
    5. repec:ags:aaea22:335578 is not listed on IDEAS
    6. Skyler Simnitt & Marcelo Castillo, 2025. "Labor contractors in U.S. agriculture: Recent trends and H‐2A program usage," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 47(4), pages 1298-1322, September.

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