US Farm Guest Worker Programs at a Crossroads: Balancing Labor and Productivity

Strategic Insights -

The United States' farm labor market is facing significant challenges as it navigates the changing needs of the agricultural industry. A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of California Davis highlights the complexities of the situation, citing the need for labor-saving machines, productivity aids, and a combination of H-2A workers and importing labor-intensive commodities from lower-wage countries. The study reveals that the farm guest worker program has quadrupled to 400,000 jobs over the past decade, with guest workers now filling 20 percent of average US crop employment.

Key Takeaways:

  • The US developed farm guest worker programs, including the Bracero programs during WWI and WWII, and the H-2(A) farm guest worker program in the 1950s.
  • The US attempted to legalize the farm workforce in the mid-1980s, but ultimately spread unauthorized workers throughout US agriculture and the nonfarm economy.
  • The H-2A program quadrupled to 400,000 jobs over the past decade, with guest workers filling 20 percent of average US crop employment.
  • The farm labor market is considering options that include labor-saving machines, productivity aids, and changing to non-labour-intensive crops and importing labor-intensive commodities from lower-wage countries.
  • The US tried to legalize the farm workforce in the mid-1980s, but it led to a surge in unauthorized workers.

Statistics:

  • 400,000: The number of H-2A jobs that have been created over the past decade.
  • 20 percent: The percentage of average US crop employment filled by guest workers.
  • 1950s: The decade when the H-2(A) farm guest worker program was included in US immigration law.
  • WWI and WWII: The periods when the US developed farm guest worker programs, including the Bracero programs.

Sources:

  • Davis, California, research by NewsRx editors, Science Letter, September 5, 2025.
  • Asia & the Pacific Policy Studies, 2025;12(3).
  • University of California Davis, Ag & Resource Econ, Davis, CA 95616, United States.
  • Philip Martin, University of California Davis.
  • Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australian Government.