HARRISBURG, Pa. — Workers hired directly by farm operators numbered 809,000 for the reference week of October 6-12, 2019, up 3 percent from the October 2018 reference week. There were 802,000 workers hired directly by farm operators on the Nation’s farms and ranches during the week of July 7-13, 2019, down 5 percent from the July 2018 reference week.
Farm operators paid their hired workers an average wage of $15.02 per hour during the October 2019 reference week, up 4 percent from October 2018. Field workers received an average of $14.38 per hour, up 5 percent. Livestock workers earned $13.77, up 3 percent from the previous year. The field and livestock worker combined wage rate, at $14.21 per hour, was up 4 percent from the 2018 reference week. Hired laborers worked an average of 42.5 hours during the October 2019 reference week, up 2 percent from the hours worked during the October 2018 reference week.
Farm operators paid their hired workers an average wage of $14.91 per hour during the July 2019 reference week, up 4 percent from the July 2018 reference week. Field workers received an average of $14.19 per hour, up 4 percent, while livestock workers earned $13.79 per hour, up 4 percent from the previous year. The field and livestock worker combined wage rate, at $14.08 per hour, was up 4 percent from July 2018 reference week. Hired laborers worked an average of 41.7 hours during the July 2019 reference week, up 1 percent from the hours worked during the July 2018 reference week.
Northeast Region I (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont)
There were 36,000 workers hired directly by farms during the week of July 7-13, 2019. All hired workers worked an average of 39.8 hours during the survey week. The average wage rate for all hired workers was $15.17 per hour. Field workers earned an average of $14.34 per hour and livestock workers averaged $13.69 per hour. Field and livestock workers combined earned an average of $14.10 per hour.
There were 38,000 workers hired directly by farms during the week of October 6-12, 2019. All hired workers worked an average of 41.8 hours during the survey week. The average wage rate for all hired workers was $15.13 per hour. Field workers averaged $14.54 per hour and livestock workers averaged $13.46 per hour. Field and livestock workers combined earned an average of $14.20 per hour.
Northeast Region II (Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania)
There were 40,000 workers hired directly by farms during the week of July 7-13, 2019. Hired workers worked an average of 40.2 hours during the survey week. The average wage rate for all hired workers was $14.12 per hour. Field workers earned an average of $12.87 per hour and livestock workers averaged $12.50 per hour. Field and livestock workers combined earned an average of $12.80 per hour.
There were 34,000 workers hired directly by farms during the week of October 6-12, 2019. Hired workers worked an average of 40.0 hours during the survey week. The average wage rate for all hired workers was $14.81 per hour. Field workers earned an average of $13.69 per hour and livestock workers averaged $12.80 per hour. Field and livestock workers combined earned an average of $13.50 per hour.
–King Whetstone, USDA, NASS
