MJP –
A report from the American Immigration Council indicates that Florida and other states experiencing extreme heat levels are seeking an increased number of temporary migrant farmworkers.
They arrive in the country under a temporary visa called H-2A. The council utilized information from the H-2A application provided by the U.S. Department of Labor to craft a visual representation illustrating the need. The emphasis was on the quantity of workers needed, rather than the actual number that ultimately arrived to work in the United States.
In various states such as California, Arizona, Texas, and Florida, employers have raised their demand for foreign agricultural workers by 65% from 2017 to 2022.
The need for workers in Florida has increased twofold, soaring from 25,000 employees to more than 50,000.
We observed a connection between regions that endure elevated temperatures and an increase in requests for H-2A laborers. According to Steven Hubbard, the senior data scientist at the American Immigration Council, places such as Florida, specifically Hillsborough County and Manatee County, experienced notable rises in the number of applications for H-2A workers.
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Upon observing Florida specifically, it became evident that more than 20% of employees labored in environments where the temperature soared above 90 degrees, leading to the onset of various illnesses. You may experience heat exhaustion and exhibit symptoms of other ailments.
According to him, employers need additional workers due to a scarcity in the labor force, impacting various sectors across the country, such as agriculture. The fruit and vegetable sectors experienced the most significant surge in demand, with growth seen in various agricultural areas such as apple orchards, as well as hog and cattle farming.
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A chart partially displays the correlation between the need for farm workers in each county of Florida and the level of heat in those regions.
A chart partially displays the correlation between the need for farm laborers in each county of Florida and the level of heat in those regions.
Hubbard highlighted how age is a factor contributing to the rise in requests for foreign workers. The average age of migrant workers has increased by five years, rising from 37 in 2006 to 42 at present.
As a result, there is a decrease in the number of young employees, leading to a greater dependence on older workers. Therefore, according to Hubbard, the H-2A program is necessary to substitute for the workers who are not arriving to work in the fields.
He expressed that the combination of advancing in age and laboring in more intense heat is not ideal.
“As we face increasing temperatures due to the effects of climate change, it is imperative that we address the issue of heat-related illnesses among agricultural workers. How can we find solutions to combat these challenges in the agricultural sector?” Hubbard expressed.
As the transportation and energy industries release planet-warming fossil fuels into the atmosphere, Florida and other regions are facing unprecedented heat waves, leading to an increase in heat advisories being issued.
This year, Governor Ron DeSantis approved a law that prohibits cities and counties from establishing measures to protect outdoor workers from high temperatures.
Hubbard expressed his desire for the newest report to raise awareness regarding the significance of outdoor laborers and the dangers they encounter.
Hubbard expressed his desire for the map to spark conversations at both a national and, most significantly, a local level. One of the motives behind my analysis of the data, first at the state level and then at the county level, is to facilitate those conversations.
