Immigration Reform and Agriculture Conference: Changing ...
Transcript of Immigration Reform and Agriculture Conference: Changing ...
Immigration Reform and Agriculture Conference: Implications for Farmers, Farm Workers, and Communities
University of California, D.C. Campus
12 May 2011
Changing Characteristics of U.S. Farm Workers: 21 Years of Findings from the National Agricultural Workers Survey
Daniel Carroll U.S. Department of Labor
Annie Georges JBS International
Russell Saltz Graduate Student
London School of Economics
* Disclaimer: Any views expressed or interpretations of the data made in this presentation are solely those of the authors
2
National Agricultural Worker Survey (NAWS)
• NAWS is a nationally representative random sample survey of hired crop farm workers; it is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor and conducted by JBS International, Aguirre Division.
• NAWS collects demographic, employment, and health information directly from farm workers through face-to-face interviews.
• Various Federal agencies use NAWS information for program purposes.
• The survey is in its 23rd year.
• Since 1989, more than 54,000 workers have been interviewed.
3
Overview
• Demographic Characteristics
• Employment Characteristics
• Earnings, Income and Public Assistance
Characteristics
4
Demographics Place of Birth
Mexico Other Central America USA and Puerto Rico
100% 40% 33%
54%
3%
5%
24%
70%
2%
17%
72%
1%
2%
26% 29% 90%
2% 80%
1% 4%
25%
3%70% 3% 1% 1%2%60% 3%
50%
40% 79% 71% 68%61%30%
20%
10%
0%
5
Foreign Born: Years Since First Arrival
0 - 4 5 - 9 10 - 19 20 + Percent Foreign Born
100% 90%
90%
29% 37%
27% 22%
32% 29%
13% 12% 85%
80%
43% 48%
18% 16%
26% 22%
12% 14%
42% 35%
16% 19%
24% 22%
18% 24% 29%
26%
19%
26%
Fore
ign
Bor
n Fa
rm W
orke
rs
Year
s Si
nce
Firs
t Arr
ival
Perc
ent o
f U.S
. Far
m W
orke
rs
Fore
ign
Bor
n
80% 70%
60% 75%
50% 70%
40% 65% 30%
60% 20%
55%10%
0% 50%
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Shifts in Mexico Sending Regions
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
55%
45% 41% 47% 44% 44% 45%
39% 48% 48%
38% 41% 35% 35%
5% 7% 11% 16% 15%
21% 20%
West Central Rest of Mexico Pacific South
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Indigenous Mexicans and Central Americans
18%
14%
16% 16%
15%
12%
8%
10%
9%
11%
2%
4%
6%
4% 3%
5%
0%
8
Farm Worker Age
14-17 years 18-21 years 22-24 years 25+ years Average Age
100% 37
90% 3636 80% 35
35
4%
17%
11%
68%
33
63%
11% 31
18%
8%
62%
12% 31
19%
8%
65%
31
13%
18%
5%
69% 33
12%
14%
5%
70% 3471% 76%60% 33
50% 32
40% 31
30% 10%
9%20%
16%10% 13% 3% 3%0%
Perc
ent i
n Ea
ch A
ge G
roup
Aver
age
Age
28
29
30
29%
19%
42% 7
22%
20%
47% 7
6%
18%
22%
52%
7
6%
23%
22%
46%
7
8%
23%
22%
8
42%
9%
28%
8
17%
40%
Farm Worker Education
No Primary Primary (1-6 years) Middle (7-9 years) High School (10-12 years) Post-Secondary (13-16 years) Average highest grade completed
5% 5% 4%
Perc
ent i
n Av
erag
e H
ighe
st G
rade
C
ompl
eted
by
Gra
de G
roup
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
5%
40%
18%
32%
6%
8 8
7
Aver
age
Hig
hest
Gra
de C
ompl
eted
0% 5% 4% 4% 4% 5% 1989-19911992-19941995-19971998-20002001-20032004-20062007-2009
9
6
9
10
2007 – 2009: English Speaking Ability
U.S.-born (not P.R.) All U.S. Farm Workers
Foreign-born (including P.R.) Not at all A little Somewhat Well 100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
35%
27%
8%
30%
48%40%
37%30%
20%
10% 0% 0% 1%
99%
11% 3% 0%
Not at all A little Somewhat Well
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2007 – 2009: Foreign Born English Speaking Ability
5 - 9 Years Since 0 - 4 Years Since First Arrival to U.S First Arrival to U.S
Not at all A little Somewhat Well Not at all A little Somewhat Well 1%1%4%
49%
39%
10%
20+ Years Since First Arrival to U.S
Not at all A little Somewhat Well
74%
22%
10 - 19 Years Since First Arrival to U.S
Not at all A little Somewhat Well
41%
40%
14%
5%
30%
47%
17%
6%
Marital Status
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Single Married/Living together Separated/Divorced/Widowed Parent
100% 54%
52%
5%
43%
52%
4%
44%
6%
52%
41%
57%
5%
38%
5%
57%
38%
6%
59%
35%
7% 90%
35%
58%
52% 80%
50% 70%
48%60%
50% 46%
40% 44% 30%
42% 20%
40%10%
0% 38%
Mar
ital S
tatu
s
Perc
ent o
f Far
m W
orke
rsw
ho a
re P
aren
ts
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Migrant Type
Domestic follow the crop International follow the crop Domestic shuttler International shuttler Foreign Born Newcomer Migrant
100%
14%
27%
39% 60%
21%
13%
4%
17%
40%
10% 21%
31%
16%
10%
21%
34%
28%
15% 8%
15%
41%
29%
11% 6%
13%
42%
25%
13% 3%
15%
35%
29%
16%
3% 17%
90% 50%
80% 40%70%
60% 30% 50%
40%
30%
20%
10% 20%
0%
0% 15%
-10%
10%
Mig
rant
Wor
ker C
ompo
sitio
n
Perc
ent o
f U.S
. Far
m W
orke
rsw
ho a
re M
igra
nt W
orke
rs
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Current Status
Unauthorized Work Authorized Green Card Citizen
100%
90%
43%
13%
29%
14%
20% 35%
21%
7%
37%
26% 28% 27% 80%
70% 25%
1%
21% 22%24%60% 1%
1%50% 3%
40%
30% 54% 50% 50%47%20%
10%
0%
33%
1%
18%
48%
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Special Agricultural Workers (SAW) and Unauthorized Farm Workers
60%
50%
40%
Immigration Reform and Control Act Enacted National Agriculture Workers Survey Begins 30% SAW Unauthorized
20%
10%
0%
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
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Current Status of 1986 IRCA-Legalized
Citizen Green Card Work Authorized
100% 11%
90% 32%
80%
70%
60% 90%
50%
1%
68%
87% 40%
30%
20%
10%
91%
0%
17%
89%
1%
83%
0%
10%
93%
1%
10%9% 6%3%0%
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Current Status of those Legalized through Family Programs
Green Card Citizen Work Authorized
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
95%
0% 5% 7%
8%
85%
5%
18%
76%
10%
7%
83%
8%
13%
80%
8%
11%
82%
7%
11%
82%
18
Mixed Status Families as a Percentage of Families
30%
25%
24%
20% 21%
15% 15%
10% 9%
5% 6%
0% 1995-1997 1998-2000 2001-2003 2004-2006 2007-2009
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Mixed Status Families as a Percentage of all FWs
14%
12% 12%
10% 10%
8%
7% 6%
4% 4%
3% 3%2%
0% 1992-1994 1995-1997 1998-2000 2001-2003 2004-2006 2007-2009
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Demographics Summary
• The Mexico-born peaked at 79 percent in 1998-2000.
• The average age of crop workers has increased more in
recent periods; it is now 36.
• The share of unauthorized workers has remained roughly 50
percent since 2001.
• The share of farm workers who migrate has been decreasing.
• An increasing share of immigrant crop workers is naturalizing.
• The share of mixed-status families is increasing.
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Employment Years of U.S. Farm Work Experience
0 - 4 5 - 9 10 - 19 20 + Avg. Number of Years US FW Exp
100%
36%
26%
24%
15% 14
11%
23%
23%
43%
12%
21%
19%
49%
12%
20%
18%
51%
18%
20%
19%
42%
21%
21%
21%
37%
26%
24%
18%
32%
90% 13
Perc
ent i
n Ea
chYe
ars
of E
xper
ienc
e G
roup
80%
70%
60%
Aver
age
Year
s of
Fa
rm W
ork
Expe
rienc
e U
.S.
12
11
50%
40%
30%
10
9
20% 8
10%
0% 7
22
Number of Farm Employers Per Year
1 2 3 or more
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
27%
21%
52%
6%
13%
81%
6%
14%
79%
10%
18%
72%
13%
21%
65%
16%
21%
63%
21%
19%
60%
23
Average Number of FW Weeks
40
35
34 30 31
28 2725 26 24
20
15
10
5
0
Farm
Wor
k W
eeks
35
24
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Employment Type
Direct hire Labor contracted
84% 85% 77% 73% 79%
86% 88%
16% 15% 23% 27% 21%
14% 12%
25
Payment Method
80%
90%
100% 2%By the Hour
2% 2% 2% 1%By the Piece
16%
4% 2% 2% 3%
Combo Hourly and Piece
2% 0% 5% 6%
Salary or Other
70%
60%
50%
40% 73% 73% 74% 79% 79% 83% 83%
30%
20%
10%
0%
15% 11% 11%
22% 23% 24%
2%
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Primary Crop at Time of Interview
Field Crops Fruits and Nuts Horticulture Crop Vegetables Misc/Mult
40% 37% 35%
35% 35% 32% 34%
32%
30% 28% 31% 29%
31% 27%
25% 25% 25% 24% 23%
20% 19%
20% 18%
20%
15% 17% 16% 15%
17% 16%
12% 12% 10% 9%
9%
0%
5% 6% 7% 6%
4%
7% 5%
1989-1991 1992-1994 1995-1997 1998-2000 2001-2003 2004-2006 2007-2009
27
Primary Task at Time of Interview
Pre-Harvest Harvest Post-Harvest Technical Supervisor Other
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
18%
1%
7%
13%
41%
20%
25%
0% 3%
18%
27%
27%
32%
16% 0%
12%
22%
18%
27%
15% 0%
12%
29%
17%
18%
23%
0%
10%
29%
20%
26%
0% 5%
12%
36%
21%
21%
0% 6%
14%
42%
17%
28
Employment Summary
• U.S. farm workers have an average of 13 years of U.S. farm
work experience, which has been steadily increasing since
the 1998-2000 period.
• Crop workers are performing more weeks of farm
employment per year.
• The vast majority of farm workers have one farm employer
per year.
29
Income and Aid Nominal Avg. Wage (Three-Yr Rolling Avg.)
Minimum NAWS NASS Non Farm
$18 $17 $16 $15 $14 $13 $12 $11 $10
$9 $8 $7 $6 $5 $4 $3
30
Real Average Wage (Three-Year Rolling Average)
Minimum NAWS NASS Non Farm
$19 $18 $17 $16 $15 $14 $13 $12 $11 $10
$9 $8 $7 $6 $5
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Average Income by Income Type
Personal income (farm only) Personal income (all sources) Family income (all sources)
$17,500- $19,999
$15,000-
$7,500- $9,999
$7,500- $9,999
$7,500- $9,999 $7,500-
$10,000- $12,499 $10,000-
$12,499
$12,500- $14,999 $12,500-
$14,999
$17,499
$12,500- $14,999
$15,000- $17,499
$9,999 $5,000- $5,000- $5,000- $7,499 $7,499 $7,499 $5,000-
$7,499 $2,500- $2,500- $4,999 $4,999
32
Total Family Income Below the Poverty Level
60%
56% 50%
46% 40% 42%
30% 30%
27% 23%20%
10%
0% 1992-1994 1995-1997 1998-2000 2001-2003 2004-2006 2007-2009
33
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Public Assistance: (respondent and/or family member use in the last two years)
No public assistance Need-based
Contribution-based Both need- and contribution-based
8%
20%
12%
59%
9%
14%
14%
63%
10%
10%
13%
67%
9%
12%
14%
65%
10%
14%
16%
60%
10%
15%
17%
58%
8%
12%
23%
57%
34
Type of Public Assistance Received: (respondent and/or family member use in the last two years)
Both need- and contribution-based Contribution-based
Need-based Share of FW who Received Public Assistance 100% 50%
41%
19% 24%
38%
37%
38%
29%
31%
33%
40%
25%
35%
35%
39%
25%
40%
35%
40%
23%
42%
35%
42%
19% 43%
28%
52%Type
of P
ublic
Ass
ista
nce
Rec
eive
d
90% 45%
Shar
e of
Far
m W
orke
rs
Rec
eivi
ng P
ublic
Ass
ista
nce
80% 40%
30%
30%
50% 15%
20% 10%
10% 5%
70% 35%
60% 30%
50% 25%
40% 20%
0% 0%
35
Status of Needs Based Assistance Recipients (respondent and/or family member use in the last two years)
Citizen Green Card Work Authorized Unauthorized Share of FW who Received Public Assistance
100% 35% 26%
7%
28%
39%
7% 22% 28% 37% 42% 47%
2%
31% 25%
43% 45%
1%
54%
20%
18% 3%
32% 21%
30% 35%
1%3%
20%
28%
24%
5%
90% 30%
80% 70% 60%
25%
20% 50% 40% 30%
15%
10%
10% 0% 0%
Stat
us o
f tho
se R
ecei
ving
Nee
ds B
ased
Pub
lic A
ssis
tanc
e
Shar
e of
Far
m W
orke
rs R
ecei
ving
N
eeds
Bas
ed P
ublic
Ass
ista
nce
36
Status of Public Assistance Recipients: Both Types (respondent and/or family member use in the last two years)
Citizen Green Card Work Authorized Unauthorized
100% 8% 22% 17% 21% 25% 27% 35%
90%
23% 3%80%
51% 38%
2% 1%9%
37% 27%
2%70% 1%
60% 21% 49%32%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10% 49% 37% 31% 27% 36% 33% 38%
0% 1989-1991 1992-1994 1995-1997 1998-2000 2001-2003 2004-2006 2007-2009
37
Earnings, Income, and Public Assistance Summary
• Average hourly earning increased nominally and in real terms, but
not as much as the earnings of non-farm workers.
• The share of workers with total family incomes below poverty
decreased.
• The share of workers receiving public assistance increased by 30
percent between the periods1995-1997 and 2007-2009.
• Use of needs-based public assistance increased between the
periods1998-2000 and 2007-2009, while use of contribution-based
assistance decreased.
38
For Additional Information
• Background information on the NAWS, including survey methodology and public access data, is available at:
http://www.doleta.gov/agworker/naws.cfm
• Information may also be obtained from:
Daniel Carroll U.S. Department of Labor (202) 693-2795 [email protected]
Susan Gabbard JBS International, Inc., Aguirre Division (650) 373-4900 [email protected]