This report examines the demographic and employment characteristics, geographic distribution, and earnings of the agricultural work force in the United States as of 1985. Data are from the Agricultural Work Force Supplement to the December 1985 Current Population Survey. The three components of the agricultural work force--hired farmworkers, farm…

In 1991, 53 percent of hired farmworkers lived in nonmetropolitan areas. Among nonmetro workers, hired farmworkers were more likely to be young, male, Hispanic and to work seasonally. Their weekly income was 67 percent that of all nonmetro workers. About half of nonmetro hired farmworkers had not completed high school. Farm employment was sporadic…

Hired farmworkers make up 1% of all U.S. workers but one-third of production agricultural workers. In 1996, compared to all workers, hired farmworkers earned significantly less and were more likely to be younger, never married, Hispanic, and noncitizens. Over half had not graduated from high school, and three-quarters of noncitizens had only an…

The hourly wages of migrants in Wayne County, New York in 1968 were higher than state or Federal legal requirements. However, for many migrant workers, the irregularity of migrant employment made it less profitable over the harvest than a steady job at the lower legal rates. Moreover, a person who could be employed at a steady job as a…

The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 contains controversial provisions to allow temporary "replenishment" farmworkers to enter the United States to harvest perishable crops. This paper describes the role of legal and illegal foreign workers in California agriculture in relation to these provisions and the assumptions on which…

Finds that, for 147 Florida migrant farm workers interviewed in 1978, support for unionization was related, in descending order, to being Black, to perceiving mechanization as a threat, and to being dependent on farm work, married, a non-citizen, illiterate, and poorly educated. Contains 22 references. (SV)

Major components of a study conducted in 1977 and 1978 were: (1) an examination of existing literature on migrant transportation; (2) collection of pertinent empirical data from federal, state, and migrant work camp records; and (3) vehicle counts and observation at 32 selected locations in 11 destination states in the western, midwestern, and…

In 1995, an average 832,000 persons aged 15 and over did hired farmwork each week, receiving median weekly earnings of $260 (compared to $440 for all U.S. workers). The large number of foreign (mostly Mexican) farmworkers contributed to low educational levels. California accounted for 25% of U.S. farm labor expenses, followed by Florida and Texas.…

Characteristics of hired farmworkers have changed little during the 1990s. These workers continue to earn about 58 percent as much as all wage and salary workers. Data tables and figures present characteristics of farmworkers and all workers: age, gender, race, educational attainment, citizenship, region, earnings, and occupations. (TD)

Farm labor contractors (FLCs) have become increasingly important in California agriculture. This report examines FLC background characteristics, business practices, and relationships with employers and farm workers, many of whom are seasonal and migrant workers. Over 300 FLCs, farm workers, and growers were interviewed in five California regions.…

This report examines the wage differential necessary to induce nonagricultural workers to work in agriculture. The responsiveness of labor supply to wage changes is important because the Immigration Reform and Control Act may reduce the supply of immigrant farm labor in the United States. A random sample of 931 males with a ninth grade education…

This report examines the occupational mobility of agricultural workers in two California labor markets and the effects of the Immigration Reform and Control Act and individual, job, and labor-market characteristics on such mobility. Interviews were conducted among a randomly selected sample of 162 households, which included 401 workers in southern…

Many farmworkers are faced with serious problems such as toxic drinking water, malnutrition, low levels of education and income, and poor health care. Based on statistical review, social surveys, and case studies, this document describes older farmworkers' living conditions, focusing on their housing problems. For many, housing is a luxury item…

This paper identifies individual and institutional factors which have facilitated or inhibited the achievement of successful black farmers. The information derived from the case studies is used to develop a model which can be used in working effectively with black farmers. The thirteen case studies discussed focus on the following: (1) reasons for…

Census data reveal that during the period from 1990 to 1993, the number of hired farmworkers declined; farmworkers were likely to be young, male, and Hispanic, and to have only a limited education; over half of farmworkers had not graduated from high school; and farmworkers' earnings were significantly lower when compared to other workers.…