Labor is a crucial input for many agricultural industries. For some farm operations, planting, weeding, pruning and harvesting require access to seasonal and migrant farmworkers. Other farms and agribusinesses require a steady and reliable pool of workers all year round. Obtaining sufficient agricultural labor is a major challenge around the country. In North Carolina, the production of several labor-intensive crops and meat processing operations demand significant amounts of agricultural workers with different skills.

The purpose of this page is to provide information related to agricultural labor in North Carolina, the U.S. Southeast region, and, more generally, the United States. The data and research findings presented here aim to help farms and agricultural businesses make better-informed decisions and strategic plans regarding hiring, training and retaining agricultural workers. Labor market information related to the supply and demand of agricultural workers, wages and immigration policies that could affect the availability of farmworkers in the fields is also provided.

Resources

Data Sources and Economic Statistics
National Agricultural Workers Survey (U.S. Department of Labor)
Agricultural Employment Data (Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis FRED database)
Farm Labor Trends (U.S. Department of Agriculture)
Agricultural Workers Occupational Outlook (Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Resources for Farmers and Farmworkers
H-2A Factsheet
The H-2A Temporary Visa Program (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services)
National Farmworker Jobs Program (U.S. Department of Labor)
NC State Economist: The H-2A Visa Program: Addressing Farm Labor Scarcity in North Carolina
NC State Economist: The Christmas Tree Industry in North Carolina: Characteristics and Challenges Ahead

COVID-19 and Agricultural Labor in North Carolina
General Resources for Growers and Workers (NC State Extension)
Understanding the Coronavirus Videos in Spanish and English (NC State Extension)
Farmworker Health and the Pandemic Podcast (NC State CALS)

Labor Market News
NC State Economist: The State of Agriculture in North Carolina: Lessons from the 2022 Census
Robots on the Farm
Feeding America: How Immigrants Sustain US Agriculture
What is the TN Visa Program?
Adverse Effect Wage Rates of H-2A Workers Increase in 2023
Urban Development and Farm Labor Scarcity: Are Workers Leaving Agriculture for Construction?
Immigration Projects Under Discussion: Why do They Matter for the Agricultural Labor Supply
Job Market Behavior During Pandemic Times
New Rules for the Calculation of H-2A Workers’ Wages
How to Protect Farmworkers During Heat Waves?

Grants
Immigrant Entrepreneurship
The Expansion of the H-2A Farmworker Visa Program in the United States
Robotization in the Dairy Sector