Who are the Farmworkers in the United States today?

These findings are from the National Agricultural Workers Survey (NAWS), which is administered by the Department of Labor. The information was collected from October 1, 2000 and September 30, 2002 through face-to-face interviews. 6,472 interviews were conducted with farm crop workers in the United States. This report includes all types of farm crop workers, including migrants. Migrants are defined as having “to travel at least 75 miles during a 12-month period to a obtain farm job” (NWAS, 2001)

Due to the mobility of migrant workers, they are a difficult population to research. But it is estimated that there are over 3 million migrant and seasonal farm workers in the U.S.

•  23% of all hired crop farm workers were born in the U.S.

• 75% were born in Mexico & 2% in Central American countries.

• 25% were U.S. citizens, while 21% were legal permanent residents.

• 42% of all hired crop farm workers were migrants.

• The average age of crop workers in 2001-2002 was 33.

• 79% of those surveyed were male.

• 58% were married and 51% were parents who reported having an average of 2 children.

• The mean highest grade completed was the seventh grade.

• Spanish was the primary native language spoken (81%).

• The average number of hours per week was 42 hours and the average hourly earnings was $7.25. Those who were with their employers for one year or less averaged $6.75 per hour.

• 58% of farm workers lived in housing renter from someone other than their employer, while 21% living in housing that was supplied by their employer (17% = free of charge, 4%= pays rent)

• 30% of all farm workers had family incomes below poverty

It is important to understand that this survey was conducted by the Department of Labor and includes workers of “seasonal agricultural services”, which is a term used by the Department of Agriculture to describe workers who perform “field work”. The sample data does not include workers of poultry, livestock, fisheries, secretaries, mechanics or H-2A foreign temporary workers.

Findings from the National Agricultural Workers Survey 2001-2002: A Demographic and Employment Profile of United Farm Workers. Rep. Mar. 2005. Department of Labor. 4 Dec. 2009 <http://www.doleta.gov/agworker/report9/naws_rpt9.pdf>.