October 9 , 2006

ISSUE 1136

USDA PUBLISHES SUMMER LABOR STATISTICS
 
USDA recently released the results of its Summer Farm Labor Survey in Florida. USDA estimates that there were 43,000 hired farmworkers in Florida during the report period (July 9-15, 2006), which is a decrease of 9,000 workers from the April 2006 survey, and 2,000 more workers than a year earlier.
 
Field and livestock workers in Florida averaged $8.48 per hour, 9¢ more than the April 2006 survey, and 27¢ less than last July’s survey. All hired workers averaged 40.4 hours of work per week, which means the average weekly wage was $339.20 (40.4 x $8.48).
 
Nationally, 1.20 million hired farmworkers were employed, and field and livestock workers averaged $9.10 per hour. Nationally, all hired farmworkers worked an average of 40.9 hours per week, bringing their average weekly earnings to $372.19 (40.9 x $9.10).