Washington Now #3 In H-2A Usage

New figures show demand for foreign guest workers on Northwest farms is surging. The H-2A program certified more than 254,000 positions nationwide in the first half of fiscal 2026, nearly 17% ahead of last year and on pace for a record year.

Washington Reported A Big Jump

Among the states with the highest totals of certified H-2A positions, Washington posted one of the most striking gains, with first-half certifications rising 67.2% year–over-year, from 15,171 in the first half of fiscal year 2025 to 25,368 in in the first half of fiscal year 2026. Georgia also had strong growth, 15.3% increase, while Florida, despite remaining the top state in overall certifications, posted a modest first-half-of-the-the-year decline of 5.1%. Florida's pattern, however, is consistent with prior years: its certifications are heavily weighted toward the third and fourth quarters, when peak harvest labor is concentrated, making first-half-of-the-year comparisons less representative of its full-year trajectory. Through the first half of fiscal year 2026, Florida had certified 30,044 positions, already 52.8% of its full fiscal year 2025 total of 56,934.

Florida, Georgia, Washington, California and North Carolina continue to account for a disproportionate share of total H-2A activity. These five states together certified nearly 125,000 positions in the first half of fiscal year 2026, representing just under half of the national total.

Very Few Domestic Workers

The increase comes as farmers continue to face a severe labor shortage. Nationwide, just 182 domestic workers filled nearly 415,000 seasonal farm jobs advertised last year.

While Oregon and Idaho also rely heavily on H-2A workers for agriculture, and saw their numbers increase 18% and 6% respectively, Washington's sharp increase highlights the growing dependence on guest workers across the Northwest as growers look ahead to another harvest.

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