place certify for the use of seasonal agrarian visas – have intercourse as H-2A visa – grew in fiscal year 2024 ( October 2023 - September 2024 ) by less than 2 % for the 2d twelvemonth in a row , accord to latterly bring out Department of Labor data . There were , however , notable decreases in license positions in top H-2A employer United States Department of State . Rising costs and new regulations have decelerate the explosive growth we have visualise over the last X . Continuous development in the programme at large reflects a shift key in the domesticated workforce aside from agriculture , despite a continue indigence for reliable farm Labor Department .
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domesticated workforceThe American labor force useable for farming employment has grown circumscribed . We continue to see lower hands participation than before the pandemic and a blue unemployment charge per unit . While the U.S. labour military force has grown by more than 12 million people in the last 10 years , declining fertility rates and large retreat pressures have slowed the Labour Party force growth rate from 1.3 % per year to only half a percent in the past 20 years . The official U.S. unemployment rate was 4.1 % in October 2024 , less than a percentage level high-pitched than the pre - pandemic rate of 3.5 % , and lower than the 5 % unemployment charge per unit a tenner ago .
The labor strength involution rate – the share of all U.S. citizen between 15 and 64 who are employed or actively try employment – has been falling since the early 2000s , largely due to the increase phone number and parcel of college students who do not participate in the men and the aging of the U.S. population . The workforce participation rate of students enrolled in two- or four - year colleges fell 13 % and 9 % , respectively , in the past 20 year . Meanwhile , the retirement of the " baby baby boomer " multiplication continues to outpace the entering of new multiplication into the labor force , pulling down overall labor force participation . These trends pinch both end of the available labor force , putting domesticated employment pressures on employees of prime employment age ( ages 25 - 54 ) . These factors mean that increasing immigration has become the lead constituent of hands outgrowth in the U.S.
Both population aging and its result on the men are more spectacular in rural farm and spread communities . Only 14 % of the U.S. population live on in rural areas , but over 20 % of the universe in rural counties are over the age of 65 , equate to 16 % in urban areas . The share of people in rural areas who are 55 to 64 is also above the national norm , and the rural share of nipper under 15 is somewhat higher than the national average ; so , only 28 % of the rural population is of prime workings long time compared to 38.5 % of the general U.S. population . Employers in rural communities therefore struggle to maintain their labor force , slow down economical outgrowth and restricting their ability to maintain business operations .
Americans also continue to move aside from hand - on work , include farmwork , so the H-2A program has become crucial to supplement the tight U.S. farm labor food market amid a declining rural workforce . The consistent growing in applications and certifications for H-2A workers spotlight the shortage of domestic farmworkers and the growing importance of immigrant labour on the farm .
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For more information : American Farm Bureau FederationTel : +1 ( 202 ) 406 - 3600Email:[email protected]www.fb.org
