ISSUE
1098 USDA PUBLISHES FALL LABOR STATISTICS The
U.S. Department of Agriculture recently released the results of its Fall Farm
Labor Survey in Florida. USDA estimates that there were 45,000 hired farmworkers
on Florida's farms during the report period (October 9 - 15, 2005), an increase
of 2,000 workers from the July 2005 survey, but 10,000 fewer hired workers than
a year earlier. Workers
averaged $9.33 per hour, which is 33¢ less than the July 2005 survey, but
19¢ higher than last October's survey. The survey estimates that agricultural
service firms (mostly farm labor contractors) in Florida employed 3,000 workers.
All hired workers employed by farmers averaged 39.4 hours of work per week, making
the average weekly wage $367.60 (39.4 x $9.33). Nationally,
there were 1,129 million hired workers working on the nation's farms, averaging
$9.61 per hour. Hired farmworkers collectively across the country worked an average
of 42.0 hours per week, with average weekly earnings of $403.62 (42.0 x $9.61). ALSO IN THIS WEEK'S RAP-UP (Members-Only articles are indicated in bold.) COMMERCE
DEPARTMENT SAYS BRAZIL DUMPING JUICE IN U.S. | |
