This page includes information on California and U.S. farmworkers related to immigration status and the H-2A Visa Program. The aim is for these data and studies to inform potential policies that might restrict immigration, change work visa program requirements, or otherwise change the number of farmworkers with different immigration statuses.

The H-2A Visa Program

The H-2A visa is an increasingly important program for U.S. farmers and ranchers who are unable to meet their labor needs with the pool of domestic workers. However, employers, workers, advocacy groups, and other stakeholders have voiced many complaints with the program, especially related to the Adverse Effect Wage Rate. In this report, co-authored with Dr. Philip L Martin, we summarize the origins and history of the AEWR, propose alternative data sources and methodologies for constructing AEWRs, and, by comparing U.S. farm labor visa policy with that in other countries, also explore additional considerations for reforming the H-2A visa program.

Maps and data on farmworkers in California

In the maps below, click through the tabs at the top of the image to explore data on the numbers of California of crop workers and H-2A workers, and estimates of the shares and numbers of non-Citizen and Undocumented workers. Data come from the California EDD, the QCEW, ACS, and NAWS.