Source: UC DAVIS, RURAL MIGRATION NEWS, 5/13/21


The two major sources of data on farm worker employment and wages are the Census of Agriculture and the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages. The COA reported that expenses for farm labor were $39 billion in 2017, while the QCEW reported that wages paid to crop and livestock farm workers (NAICS 111, 112, 1151, and 1152) were $40 billion.

Census of Agriculture. The COA obtains data from farm operators on their expenses for workers whom they hire directly and for workers brought to their farms by contractors. Employer labor expenses include wages as well as payroll taxes and the cost of any employer-provided benefits such as health insurance and housing, while contract labor expenses include wages, payroll taxes, work-related benefits, and other contractor expenses and profits.

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