Total population: est. 2.5 million of farmworkers Immigration Status and Nationality: approx 48% of farmworkers lack work authorization (this estimate may be low due to a variety of factors) approx 70% (or more) are undocumented estimated by other sources approx between 1.2 and 1.75 million farmworkers are undocumented; 750,000 - 1.3 million are U.S citizens or lawful immigrants approx 33% are U.S. citizens; 18% are lawful permanent residents; 1% have work authorization approx 71% are immigrants; 95% from Mexico, 3% from Central America, 2% from other countries Ethnicity and Language: 76% identify as Latino/Hispanic. 70% speak Spanish 57% speaking little (30%) or no (27%) English Undocumented Farmworkers: first entered the U.S. 59% more than 10 years ago 27% more than 15 years ago 41% less than 10 years ago 13% less than 5 years ago (before the time of the 2011-2012 NAWS interview) |
Age and Gender: 28% are women 12% are 55 or older 17% between 45 and 54 25% between 35 and 44 29% 25 and 34 18% 14 and 24 As compared to 2001-2002 report: 19% were 45 or older; 61% were under 34. In other words, the labor force got older over the 10 years period. Family Status: 58% of all farmworkers are married **** 64% of spouses (living in the U.S.) are employed: 34% do farm work. **** 54% of undocumented farmworkers are married 82% of spouses live in the U.S.; 18% abroad approx. 65% of undocumented are parents 49% live in a household with children under 18 Working experience in Agriculture: 35% worked in agriculture for more than 15 years 20% between 11 and 15 years 49% 10 years or fewer 17% for 2-5 years 13% one year or less Seasonality: 84% work more than 60 days/year 77% work more than 90 days/year 60% work more than 180 days/year The number of migrant farmworkers significantlly decreased over 10 year period.
Shift in hiring from a single employer to farm labor contractors. in 2012: 1/3 of all farmworkers employed by farm labor contractors Migrant Workers* among Farmworkers: 2011-2012: 17% migrant workers 2007-2009: 27% migrant workers 2001-2002: 42% migrant workers |
A Closer Look At Migrant Farmworkers Age: Average age 31 over half under 29 around 90,000 between 14 and 17; many are as young as 12 40% of migrant children work in the fields with their parents (Rothenberg 2000, p.7.) 400,000 children are employed in agriculture (Zinn **) Education: generally low levels of formal education limited or no fluency in English 50% of migrant children fall below national scholastic averages as early as 1st grade the majority never graduate high school Race and Ethnicity: 20% seasonal farmworkers born in the U.S. (racially and ethnically diverse group) 80% are immigrants: 90% from Mexico IMMIGRATION STATUS: approx 50% are undocumented (the number was steadily increasing throughout 90s) |
Native born have more stable, better-paid positions
Immigrants (virtually all minorities) occupy less-appealing jobs
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