Investigates extent of diversity and segmentation within United States migrant farm labor force by examining differences in migrants' attachment to farmwork. Finds three groups of migrants with differing levels of dependence on agriculture differentiated by demographic (age, minority status, region) and employment (earnings) variables. (NEC)

One limitation of hired farm labor data from the Decennial Census is undercounting; the seasonal nature of farm work means that many farm laborers are not employed in March, when the Census is taken. The 1981 Hired Farm Working Force Survey provided data to evaluate the usefulness of Census data for farm labor research. Data were grouped into…