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