Value of the Adverse Effect Wage Rate for H-2A farmworkers declined in nearly all states in 2022: Adverse Effect Wage Rates for all U.S. states, real change and percentage change from 2021 to 2022, adjusted to constant 2022 dollars, and ranked by number of workers
| State | Number of workers | Share of total H-2A workers | 2021 | 2022 | Real change | Real % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 50,644 | 15.0% | $13.06 | $12.41 | -$0.65 | -5.0% |
| Georgia | 37,720 | 11.1% | $12.77 | $11.99 | -$0.78 | -6.1% |
| California | 33,575 | 9.9% | $17.35 | $17.51 | $0.16 | 0.9% |
| Washington | 29,783 | 8.8% | $17.66 | $17.41 | -$0.25 | -1.4% |
| North Carolina | 25,191 | 7.4% | $14.21 | $14.16 | -$0.05 | -0.4% |
| Louisiana | 12,841 | 3.8% | $12.84 | $12.45 | -$0.39 | -3.0% |
| Michigan | 12,382 | 3.7% | $15.91 | $15.37 | -$0.54 | -3.4% |
| Arizona | 12,141 | 3.6% | $14.78 | $14.79 | $0.01 | 0.1% |
| New York | 9,368 | 2.8% | $16.20 | $15.66 | -$0.54 | -3.4% |
| Texas | 8,802 | 2.6% | $14.08 | $13.88 | -$0.20 | -1.5% |
| Kentucky | 7,417 | 2.2% | $14.01 | $13.89 | -$0.12 | -0.8% |
| South Carolina | 7,292 | 2.2% | $12.77 | $11.99 | -$0.78 | -6.1% |
| Mississippi | 6,932 | 2.0% | $12.84 | $12.45 | -$0.39 | -3.0% |
| Idaho | 5,696 | 1.7% | $15.73 | $14.68 | -$1.05 | -6.7% |
| Tennessee | 5,602 | 1.7% | $14.01 | $13.89 | -$0.12 | -0.8% |
| Virginia | 5,577 | 1.6% | $14.21 | $14.16 | -$0.05 | -0.4% |
| Arkansas | 5,364 | 1.6% | $12.84 | $12.45 | -$0.39 | -3.0% |
| Iowa | 4,553 | 1.3% | $16.61 | $16.19 | -$0.42 | -2.5% |
| Indiana | 4,249 | 1.3% | $16.55 | $15.89 | -$0.66 | -4.0% |
| Ohio | 3,767 | 1.1% | $16.55 | $15.89 | -$0.66 | -4.0% |
| Oregon | 3,679 | 1.1% | $17.66 | $17.41 | -$0.25 | -1.4% |
| Colorado | 3,528 | 1.0% | $16.02 | $15.58 | -$0.44 | -2.7% |
| Illinois | 3,418 | 1.0% | $16.55 | $15.89 | -$0.66 | -4.0% |
| Minnesota | 3,226 | 1.0% | $15.91 | $15.37 | -$0.54 | -3.4% |
| Nevada | 3,013 | 0.9% | $16.02 | $15.58 | -$0.44 | -2.7% |
| Nebraska | 2,778 | 0.8% | $17.18 | $16.47 | -$0.71 | -4.1% |
| North Dakota | 2,605 | 0.8% | $17.18 | $16.47 | -$0.71 | -4.1% |
| Pennsylvania | 2,560 | 0.8% | $15.19 | $15.54 | $0.35 | 2.3% |
| New Jersey | 2,512 | 0.7% | $15.19 | $15.54 | $0.35 | 2.3% |
| South Dakota | 2,145 | 0.6% | $17.18 | $16.47 | -$0.71 | -4.1% |
| Wisconsin | 2,132 | 0.6% | $15.91 | $15.37 | -$0.54 | -3.4% |
| Alabama | 1,940 | 0.6% | $12.77 | $11.99 | -$0.78 | -6.1% |
| Missouri | 1,900 | 0.6% | $16.61 | $16.19 | -$0.42 | -2.5% |
| Kansas | 1,786 | 0.5% | $17.18 | $16.47 | -$0.71 | -4.1% |
| New Mexico | 1,634 | 0.5% | $14.78 | $14.79 | $0.01 | 0.1% |
| Utah | 1,614 | 0.5% | $16.02 | $15.58 | -$0.44 | -2.7% |
| Connecticut | 1,287 | 0.4% | $16.20 | $15.66 | -$0.54 | -3.4% |
| Oklahoma | 1,276 | 0.4% | $14.08 | $13.88 | -$0.20 | -1.5% |
| Maryland | 1,262 | 0.4% | $15.19 | $15.54 | $0.35 | 2.3% |
| Montana | 1,244 | 0.4% | $15.73 | $14.68 | -$1.05 | -6.7% |
| Maine | 1,152 | 0.3% | $16.20 | $15.66 | -$0.54 | -3.4% |
| Delaware | 721 | 0.2% | $15.19 | $15.54 | $0.35 | 2.3% |
| Wyoming | 562 | 0.2% | $15.73 | $14.68 | -$1.05 | -6.7% |
| Massachusetts | 497 | 0.1% | $16.20 | $15.66 | -$0.54 | -3.4% |
| Vermont | 496 | 0.1% | $16.20 | $15.66 | -$0.54 | -3.4% |
| New Hampshire | 268 | 0.1% | $16.20 | $15.66 | -$0.54 | -3.4% |
| West Virginia | 268 | 0.1% | $14.01 | $13.89 | -$0.12 | -0.8% |
| Hawaii | 212 | 0.1% | $16.82 | $16.54 | -$0.28 | -1.7% |
| Rhode Island | 4 | 0.0% | $16.20 | $15.66 | -$0.54 | -3.4% |
Notes: All values have been adjusted to constant 2022 dollars using the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U).
Source: Author’s analysis of Adverse Effect Wage Rates for fiscal years 2021 and 2022 from the Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor. Number of workers is derived from the number of approved petitions for United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, H-2A Employer Data Hub, fiscal year 2021 data file.