October 13, 2008

ISSUE 1240

The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently released the results of its Summer Farm Labor Survey in Florida. USDA estimates that there were 44,000 hired farmworkers in Florida during the report period (July 6-12, 2008), a decrease of 9,000 workers from the April 2008 survey and 1,000 more workers than a year earlier. Field and livestock workers in Florida averaged $8.90 per hour, which is 15¢ less than the April 2008 survey, and 39¢ more than last July’s survey. All hired workers averaged 40.9 hours of work per week, which means the average weekly wage was $364.01 (40.9 x $8.90).

Nationally, 1.17 million hired farmworkers were employed, and field and livestock workers averaged $9.90 per hour. Nationally, all hired farmworkers worked an average of 40.5 hours per week, bringing their average weekly earnings to $400.95 (40.5 x $9.90).