H-2A Certifications Up 17% So Far in 2026

The H-2A program continues to grow rapidly, with the Labor Department certifying 17% more jobs during the first half of fiscal 2026 compared to a year earlier.

The temporary ag worker program allows American growers to hire foreign workers for seasonal farm labor, helping producers fill critical labor shortages while providing workers with higher wages than they could typically earn in their home countries.

These are positions that arise from a proven lack of domestic interest in the seasonal jobs. The H-2A program has grown 185% in the last ten years.

The American Farm Bureau reported in January that fiscal year 2025 was the first year in program history that over 400,000 workers were requested.