Post on 09-Feb-2022
Immigration Reform and Agriculture Conference: Implications for Farmers, Farm Workers, and Communities
University of California, D.C. Campus
12 May 2011
Changing Characteristics of U.S. Farm Workers: 21 Years of Findings from the National Agricultural Workers Survey
Daniel Carroll U.S. Department of Labor
Annie Georges JBS International
Russell Saltz Graduate Student
London School of Economics
* Disclaimer: Any views expressed or interpretations of the data made in this presentation are solely those of the authors
2
National Agricultural Worker Survey (NAWS)
• NAWS is a nationally representative random sample survey of hired crop farm workers; it is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor and conducted by JBS International, Aguirre Division.
• NAWS collects demographic, employment, and health information directly from farm workers through face-to-face interviews.
• Various Federal agencies use NAWS information for program purposes.
• The survey is in its 23rd year.
• Since 1989, more than 54,000 workers have been interviewed.
3
Overview
• Demographic Characteristics
• Employment Characteristics
• Earnings, Income and Public Assistance
Characteristics
4
Demographics Place of Birth
Mexico Other Central America USA and Puerto Rico
100% 40% 33%
54%
3%
5%
24%
70%
2%
17%
72%
1%
2%
26% 29% 90%
2% 80%
1% 4%
25%
3%70% 3% 1% 1%2%60% 3%
50%
40% 79% 71% 68%61%30%
20%
10%
0%
5
Foreign Born: Years Since First Arrival
0 - 4 5 - 9 10 - 19 20 + Percent Foreign Born
100% 90%
90%
29% 37%
27% 22%
32% 29%
13% 12% 85%
80%
43% 48%
18% 16%
26% 22%
12% 14%
42% 35%
16% 19%
24% 22%
18% 24% 29%
26%
19%
26%
Fore
ign
Bor
n Fa
rm W
orke
rs
Year
s Si
nce
Firs
t Arr
ival
Perc
ent o
f U.S
. Far
m W
orke
rs
Fore
ign
Bor
n
80% 70%
60% 75%
50% 70%
40% 65% 30%
60% 20%
55%10%
0% 50%
6
Shifts in Mexico Sending Regions
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
55%
45% 41% 47% 44% 44% 45%
39% 48% 48%
38% 41% 35% 35%
5% 7% 11% 16% 15%
21% 20%
West Central Rest of Mexico Pacific South
7
Indigenous Mexicans and Central Americans
18%
14%
16% 16%
15%
12%
8%
10%
9%
11%
2%
4%
6%
4% 3%
5%
0%
8
Farm Worker Age
14-17 years 18-21 years 22-24 years 25+ years Average Age
100% 37
90% 3636 80% 35
35
4%
17%
11%
68%
33
63%
11% 31
18%
8%
62%
12% 31
19%
8%
65%
31
13%
18%
5%
69% 33
12%
14%
5%
70% 3471% 76%60% 33
50% 32
40% 31
30% 10%
9%20%
16%10% 13% 3% 3%0%
Perc
ent i
n Ea
ch A
ge G
roup
Aver
age
Age
28
29
30
29%
19%
42% 7
22%
20%
47% 7
6%
18%
22%
52%
7
6%
23%
22%
46%
7
8%
23%
22%
8
42%
9%
28%
8
17%
40%
Farm Worker Education
No Primary Primary (1-6 years) Middle (7-9 years) High School (10-12 years) Post-Secondary (13-16 years) Average highest grade completed
5% 5% 4%
Perc
ent i
n Av
erag
e H
ighe
st G
rade
C
ompl
eted
by
Gra
de G
roup
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
5%
40%
18%
32%
6%
8 8
7
Aver
age
Hig
hest
Gra
de C
ompl
eted
0% 5% 4% 4% 4% 5% 1989-19911992-19941995-19971998-20002001-20032004-20062007-2009
9
6
9
10
2007 – 2009: English Speaking Ability
U.S.-born (not P.R.) All U.S. Farm Workers
Foreign-born (including P.R.) Not at all A little Somewhat Well 100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
35%
27%
8%
30%
48%40%
37%30%
20%
10% 0% 0% 1%
99%
11% 3% 0%
Not at all A little Somewhat Well
11
2007 – 2009: Foreign Born English Speaking Ability
5 - 9 Years Since 0 - 4 Years Since First Arrival to U.S First Arrival to U.S
Not at all A little Somewhat Well Not at all A little Somewhat Well 1%1%4%
49%
39%
10%
20+ Years Since First Arrival to U.S
Not at all A little Somewhat Well
74%
22%
10 - 19 Years Since First Arrival to U.S
Not at all A little Somewhat Well
41%
40%
14%
5%
30%
47%
17%
6%
Marital Status
12
Single Married/Living together Separated/Divorced/Widowed Parent
100% 54%
52%
5%
43%
52%
4%
44%
6%
52%
41%
57%
5%
38%
5%
57%
38%
6%
59%
35%
7% 90%
35%
58%
52% 80%
50% 70%
48%60%
50% 46%
40% 44% 30%
42% 20%
40%10%
0% 38%
Mar
ital S
tatu
s
Perc
ent o
f Far
m W
orke
rsw
ho a
re P
aren
ts
13
Migrant Type
Domestic follow the crop International follow the crop Domestic shuttler International shuttler Foreign Born Newcomer Migrant
100%
14%
27%
39% 60%
21%
13%
4%
17%
40%
10% 21%
31%
16%
10%
21%
34%
28%
15% 8%
15%
41%
29%
11% 6%
13%
42%
25%
13% 3%
15%
35%
29%
16%
3% 17%
90% 50%
80% 40%70%
60% 30% 50%
40%
30%
20%
10% 20%
0%
0% 15%
-10%
10%
Mig
rant
Wor
ker C
ompo
sitio
n
Perc
ent o
f U.S
. Far
m W
orke
rsw
ho a
re M
igra
nt W
orke
rs
14
Current Status
Unauthorized Work Authorized Green Card Citizen
100%
90%
43%
13%
29%
14%
20% 35%
21%
7%
37%
26% 28% 27% 80%
70% 25%
1%
21% 22%24%60% 1%
1%50% 3%
40%
30% 54% 50% 50%47%20%
10%
0%
33%
1%
18%
48%
15
Special Agricultural Workers (SAW) and Unauthorized Farm Workers
60%
50%
40%
Immigration Reform and Control Act Enacted National Agriculture Workers Survey Begins 30% SAW Unauthorized
20%
10%
0%
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
16
Current Status of 1986 IRCA-Legalized
Citizen Green Card Work Authorized
100% 11%
90% 32%
80%
70%
60% 90%
50%
1%
68%
87% 40%
30%
20%
10%
91%
0%
17%
89%
1%
83%
0%
10%
93%
1%
10%9% 6%3%0%
17
Current Status of those Legalized through Family Programs
Green Card Citizen Work Authorized
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
95%
0% 5% 7%
8%
85%
5%
18%
76%
10%
7%
83%
8%
13%
80%
8%
11%
82%
7%
11%
82%
18
Mixed Status Families as a Percentage of Families
30%
25%
24%
20% 21%
15% 15%
10% 9%
5% 6%
0% 1995-1997 1998-2000 2001-2003 2004-2006 2007-2009
19
Mixed Status Families as a Percentage of all FWs
14%
12% 12%
10% 10%
8%
7% 6%
4% 4%
3% 3%2%
0% 1992-1994 1995-1997 1998-2000 2001-2003 2004-2006 2007-2009
20
Demographics Summary
• The Mexico-born peaked at 79 percent in 1998-2000.
• The average age of crop workers has increased more in
recent periods; it is now 36.
• The share of unauthorized workers has remained roughly 50
percent since 2001.
• The share of farm workers who migrate has been decreasing.
• An increasing share of immigrant crop workers is naturalizing.
• The share of mixed-status families is increasing.
21
Employment Years of U.S. Farm Work Experience
0 - 4 5 - 9 10 - 19 20 + Avg. Number of Years US FW Exp
100%
36%
26%
24%
15% 14
11%
23%
23%
43%
12%
21%
19%
49%
12%
20%
18%
51%
18%
20%
19%
42%
21%
21%
21%
37%
26%
24%
18%
32%
90% 13
Perc
ent i
n Ea
chYe
ars
of E
xper
ienc
e G
roup
80%
70%
60%
Aver
age
Year
s of
Fa
rm W
ork
Expe
rienc
e U
.S.
12
11
50%
40%
30%
10
9
20% 8
10%
0% 7
22
Number of Farm Employers Per Year
1 2 3 or more
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
27%
21%
52%
6%
13%
81%
6%
14%
79%
10%
18%
72%
13%
21%
65%
16%
21%
63%
21%
19%
60%
23
Average Number of FW Weeks
40
35
34 30 31
28 2725 26 24
20
15
10
5
0
Farm
Wor
k W
eeks
35
24
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Employment Type
Direct hire Labor contracted
84% 85% 77% 73% 79%
86% 88%
16% 15% 23% 27% 21%
14% 12%
25
Payment Method
80%
90%
100% 2%By the Hour
2% 2% 2% 1%By the Piece
16%
4% 2% 2% 3%
Combo Hourly and Piece
2% 0% 5% 6%
Salary or Other
70%
60%
50%
40% 73% 73% 74% 79% 79% 83% 83%
30%
20%
10%
0%
15% 11% 11%
22% 23% 24%
2%
26
Primary Crop at Time of Interview
Field Crops Fruits and Nuts Horticulture Crop Vegetables Misc/Mult
40% 37% 35%
35% 35% 32% 34%
32%
30% 28% 31% 29%
31% 27%
25% 25% 25% 24% 23%
20% 19%
20% 18%
20%
15% 17% 16% 15%
17% 16%
12% 12% 10% 9%
9%
0%
5% 6% 7% 6%
4%
7% 5%
1989-1991 1992-1994 1995-1997 1998-2000 2001-2003 2004-2006 2007-2009
27
Primary Task at Time of Interview
Pre-Harvest Harvest Post-Harvest Technical Supervisor Other
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
18%
1%
7%
13%
41%
20%
25%
0% 3%
18%
27%
27%
32%
16% 0%
12%
22%
18%
27%
15% 0%
12%
29%
17%
18%
23%
0%
10%
29%
20%
26%
0% 5%
12%
36%
21%
21%
0% 6%
14%
42%
17%
28
Employment Summary
• U.S. farm workers have an average of 13 years of U.S. farm
work experience, which has been steadily increasing since
the 1998-2000 period.
• Crop workers are performing more weeks of farm
employment per year.
• The vast majority of farm workers have one farm employer
per year.
29
Income and Aid Nominal Avg. Wage (Three-Yr Rolling Avg.)
Minimum NAWS NASS Non Farm
$18 $17 $16 $15 $14 $13 $12 $11 $10
$9 $8 $7 $6 $5 $4 $3
30
Real Average Wage (Three-Year Rolling Average)
Minimum NAWS NASS Non Farm
$19 $18 $17 $16 $15 $14 $13 $12 $11 $10
$9 $8 $7 $6 $5
31
Average Income by Income Type
Personal income (farm only) Personal income (all sources) Family income (all sources)
$17,500- $19,999
$15,000-
$7,500- $9,999
$7,500- $9,999
$7,500- $9,999 $7,500-
$10,000- $12,499 $10,000-
$12,499
$12,500- $14,999 $12,500-
$14,999
$17,499
$12,500- $14,999
$15,000- $17,499
$9,999 $5,000- $5,000- $5,000- $7,499 $7,499 $7,499 $5,000-
$7,499 $2,500- $2,500- $4,999 $4,999
32
Total Family Income Below the Poverty Level
60%
56% 50%
46% 40% 42%
30% 30%
27% 23%20%
10%
0% 1992-1994 1995-1997 1998-2000 2001-2003 2004-2006 2007-2009
33
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Public Assistance: (respondent and/or family member use in the last two years)
No public assistance Need-based
Contribution-based Both need- and contribution-based
8%
20%
12%
59%
9%
14%
14%
63%
10%
10%
13%
67%
9%
12%
14%
65%
10%
14%
16%
60%
10%
15%
17%
58%
8%
12%
23%
57%
34
Type of Public Assistance Received: (respondent and/or family member use in the last two years)
Both need- and contribution-based Contribution-based
Need-based Share of FW who Received Public Assistance 100% 50%
41%
19% 24%
38%
37%
38%
29%
31%
33%
40%
25%
35%
35%
39%
25%
40%
35%
40%
23%
42%
35%
42%
19% 43%
28%
52%Type
of P
ublic
Ass
ista
nce
Rec
eive
d
90% 45%
Shar
e of
Far
m W
orke
rs
Rec
eivi
ng P
ublic
Ass
ista
nce
80% 40%
30%
30%
50% 15%
20% 10%
10% 5%
70% 35%
60% 30%
50% 25%
40% 20%
0% 0%
35
Status of Needs Based Assistance Recipients (respondent and/or family member use in the last two years)
Citizen Green Card Work Authorized Unauthorized Share of FW who Received Public Assistance
100% 35% 26%
7%
28%
39%
7% 22% 28% 37% 42% 47%
2%
31% 25%
43% 45%
1%
54%
20%
18% 3%
32% 21%
30% 35%
1%3%
20%
28%
24%
5%
90% 30%
80% 70% 60%
25%
20% 50% 40% 30%
15%
10%
10% 0% 0%
Stat
us o
f tho
se R
ecei
ving
Nee
ds B
ased
Pub
lic A
ssis
tanc
e
Shar
e of
Far
m W
orke
rs R
ecei
ving
N
eeds
Bas
ed P
ublic
Ass
ista
nce
36
Status of Public Assistance Recipients: Both Types (respondent and/or family member use in the last two years)
Citizen Green Card Work Authorized Unauthorized
100% 8% 22% 17% 21% 25% 27% 35%
90%
23% 3%80%
51% 38%
2% 1%9%
37% 27%
2%70% 1%
60% 21% 49%32%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10% 49% 37% 31% 27% 36% 33% 38%
0% 1989-1991 1992-1994 1995-1997 1998-2000 2001-2003 2004-2006 2007-2009
37
Earnings, Income, and Public Assistance Summary
• Average hourly earning increased nominally and in real terms, but
not as much as the earnings of non-farm workers.
• The share of workers with total family incomes below poverty
decreased.
• The share of workers receiving public assistance increased by 30
percent between the periods1995-1997 and 2007-2009.
• Use of needs-based public assistance increased between the
periods1998-2000 and 2007-2009, while use of contribution-based
assistance decreased.
38
For Additional Information
• Background information on the NAWS, including survey methodology and public access data, is available at:
http://www.doleta.gov/agworker/naws.cfm
• Information may also be obtained from:
Daniel Carroll U.S. Department of Labor (202) 693-2795 carroll.daniel.j@dol.gov
Susan Gabbard JBS International, Inc., Aguirre Division (650) 373-4900 sgabbard@jbsinternational.com