December 7, 2007

ISSUE 1196

USDA PUBLISHES FALL LABOR STATISTICS

USDA recently released the results of its Fall Farm Labor Survey in Florida. USDA estimates that there were 43,000 hired farmworkers in Florida during the report period (Oct. 7-13, 2007), which is an increase of 2000 workers from the July 2007 survey, and 1,000 less workers than a year earlier.

Field and livestock workers in Florida averaged $8.74 per hour, which is 23¢ more than the July 2007 survey, and 16¢ more than last October’s survey. All hired workers averaged 40.3 hours of work per week, which means the average weekly wage was $352.22 (40.3 x $8.74).

Nationally, 1.122 million hired farmworkers were employed, with field and livestock workers averaging $9.72 per hour. Nationally, all hired farmworkers worked an average of 42.1 hours per week, which means their average weekly earnings were $408.24 (42.1 x $9.72).