Farm Workers |
| A migrant farm worker is an individual whose principal employment is seasonal agriculture and who travels and lives in temporary housing. Nearly 40% of migrant workers are shuttle migrants, who shuttle from a residence in Mexico, for example, to do work in one area of the United States. Seventeen percent are follow-the-crop migrants who move with the crops. Most migrant workers are foreign-born. A seasonal farm worker is an individual whose principal employment is agricultural labor but who is a permanent resident of a community and does not move into temporary housing when employed in farm work. Forty-four percent of farm workers are seasonal farm workers, and the majority of these are born in the United States. The Department of Labor periodically conducts the National Agricultural Workers Survey (NAWS) and determines the profile and characteristics of farm workers and their children. Below is a table summarizing some of the results of the most recent survey: |
| Number of farm workers in United Statess | 2-3 million |
| Average wage earned by farm workers in 1997-98 | $5.94 |
| Percentage of farm workers who are undocumented | 52% |
| Percentage of farm worker households in poverty | 61% |
| Median highest completed school grade | 6th grade |
| Percentage of every food income dollar going to farm workers | 6% |
| Percentage of farm workers who are Spanish speakers | 84% |