DOL Certified 258,000 Jobs in FY19
November 19, 2019
The US Department of Labor certified almost 258,000 jobs to be filled with H-2A workers in FY19, up six percent from 243,000 in FY18. There is no limit on the number of H-2A workers who can be admitted; the number of H-2A jobs certified has risen from less than 50,000 in FY05.
The top five states accounted for 51 percent of all H-2A certifications: Florida (13 percent), Georgia (11 percent), Washington (10 percent), California (9 percent), and North Carolina (8 percent).
The five largest employers certified were the NCGA, accounting for 11,200 or four percent of H-2A certifications, Fresh Harvest, 4,800, WAFLA, 4,400, Zirkle, 3,400, and Farm-Op Kuzzens H-2A in Immokalee, 2,700. These five accounted for 10 percent of jobs certified.
The five leading job titles were general farm workers, 32,000 or 12 percent of jobs certified, berries, 10 percent, tobacco, six percent, fruits and vegetables and apples, five percent each.
The number of farm jobs certified to be filled with H-2A workers rose 6 percent to 258,000 in FY19
| FYTD | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | % Change FY 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13,081 | 3,175 | 5,380 | 2,948 | 1,578 | 10.8% |
| Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Fereign Labor Certification | |||||
| Determination | FYTD | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Determinations | 13,095 | 1,964 | 5,800 | 3,357 | 1,974 |
| - Certified | 12,626 | 1,880 | 5,660 | 3,242 | 1,844 |
| - Denied | 211 | 34 | 67 | 53 | 57 |
| - Withdrawn | 258 | 50 | 73 | 62 | 73 |
| Positions Requested | 268,729 | 36,477 | 91,161 | 85,454 | 55,637 |
| Positions Certified | 257,667 | 35,449 | 87,868 | 82,094 | 52,256 |
| Processed Timely | 86.1% | 92.6% | 77.5% | 85.6% | 96.3% |
| Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Fereign Labor Certification | |||||
| Review of Positions Certified FY 2019EOY (% of total certified FY 2019EOY) |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| Top 10 States | Florida | 33,598 | 13.0% |
| Georgia | 29,480 | 11.4% | |
| Washington | 26,226 | 10.2% | |
| California | 23,321 | 9.1% | |
| North Carolina | 21,605 | 8.4% | |
| Louisiana | 10,816 | 4.2% | |
| Michigan | 9,096 | 3.5% | |
| Kentucky | 8,315 | 3.2% | |
| New York | 8,104 | 3.1% | |
| South Carolina | 6,082 | 2.4% | |
| Top 10 Employers | North Carolina Growers Association (NCGA) | 11,223 | 4.4% |
| Fresh Harvest, Inc. | 4,812 | 1.9% | |
| WAFLA | 4,369 | 1.7% | |
| Zirkle Fruit Company | 3,400 | 1.3% | |
| Farm-Op Kuzzens H2A, LLC | 2,658 | 1.0% | |
| Ag Labor, LLC | 2,409 | 0.9% | |
| Foothill Packing, Inc. | 2,398 | 0.9% | |
| Overlook Harvesting Co. | 2,396 | 0.9% | |
| R & R Harvesting, Inc. | 2,094 | 0.8% | |
| Rancho Nuevo Harvesting | 2,024 | 0.8% | |
| Top 10 Crops/ Occupation | General Farm Workers | 31,967 | 12.4% |
| Berries | 24,661 | 9.6% | |
| Tobacco | 16,252 | 6.3% | |
| Fruits and Vegetables | 13,995 | 5.4% | |
| Apples | 12,479 | 4.8% | |
| Melons | 11,876 | 4.6% | |
| Nursery and Greenhouse Workers | 9,885 | 3.8% | |
| Agricultural Equipment Operators | 9,869 | 3.8% | |
| Corn | 9,776 | 3.8% | |
| Tomatoes | 6,252 | 2.4% | |
| Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Fereign Labor Certification | |||
| Florida | 13.0% |
|---|---|
| Georgia | 11.4% |
| Washington | 10.2% |
| California | 9.1% |
| North Carolina | 8.4% |
| Louisiana | 4.2% |
| Michigan | 3.5% |
| Kentucky | 3.2% |
| New York | 3.1% |
| South Carolina | 2.4% |
| Remaining States | 31.4% |
| Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Fereign Labor Certification | |
| General Farm Workers | 12.4% |
|---|---|
| Berries | 9.6% |
| Tobacco | 6.3% |
| Fruits and Vegetables | 5.4% |
| Melons | 4.8% |
| Nursery and Green... | 4.6% |
| Agricultural Equipment | 3.8% |
| Corn | 3.8% |
| Apples | 3.8% |
| Cherries | 2.4% |
| Remaining Crops | 42.9% |
| Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Fereign Labor Certification | |
The top five states accounted for 51 percent of H-2A jobs certified
| Year | Workers | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 257,700 | ||
| 2011 | 77,300 | ||
| 2009 | 86,000 | ||
| Source: U.S. Department of Labor | |||
| Area | 2018 | 2019 | Percent change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Florida | 30,462 | 33,598 | 10.3% |
| 2. Georgia | 32,364 | 29,480 | -8.9% |
| 3. Washington | 24,862 | 26,226 | 5.5% |
| 4. California | 18,908 | 23,321 | 23.3% |
| 5. North Carolina | 21,794 | 21,605 | -0.9% |
| U.S. Total | 242,762 | 257,667 | 6.1% |
| Source: U.S. Department of Labor | |||
Adverse Effect Wage Rates rose almost $2 an hour between 2018 and 2019 in the mountain states
