WAFLA Report Shows H-2A Worth More Than $600 Million to Washington

A report released by the Washington Farm Labor Association shows that workers that come through the H-2A Visa program are worth $619 million to the Washington economy.

The Washington Policy Center’s Ag Policy Director Madi Clark did her own research regarding farm labor when it came to labor shortages and said these reports are showcasing the importance of H-2A.

“From 2010-2015, it grew by 10 percent from four to 14 percent, just the program. That’s amazing that we’re having to depend on it more and more even though we’re pushing that to the local workforce. It’s the H-2A workers that really want these jobs, like these jobs, that they can take that money back home.”

Washington is the second largest user of the H-2A program behind California.

Clark said the prediction this year is that more H-2A workers would be needed for agriculture than were needed last year.

“The biggest driver from what I’ve studied is the migratory changes have continued to worsen the labor shortage and more American citizens are unwilling to do those jobs.”

Clark hopes that the federal government looks at the challenges on the west coast as indications that a true need for immigration reform.

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