Farm operators paid their hired workers an average wage of $11.91 per hour during the April 2013 reference week, up 4 percent from a year earlier. Field workers received an average of $10.92 per hour, up 4 percent from a year earlier. Livestock workers earned $11.46, up 51 cents. The field and livestock worker combined wage rate, at $11.10 per hour, was up 48 cents from a year earlier. Hired laborers worked an average of 40.3 hours during the April 2013 reference week, compared with 39.2 hours a year earlier.
Farm operators paid their hired workers an average wage of $12.02 per hour during the January 2013 reference week, up 4 percent from a year earlier. Field workers received an average of $10.86 per hour, up 5 percent, while livestock workers earned $11.39 per hour compared with $10.96 a year earlier. The field and livestock worker combined wage rate, at $11.07 per hour, was up 49 cents from January 2012. Hired laborers worked an average of 38.7 hours during the January 2013 reference week, compared with 39.6 hours a year earlier.
April Reference Week
For the April 2013 reference week, the largest percentage increases in the number of hired workers from a year earlier occurred in the Cornbelt II (Iowa and Missouri) and Northeast I (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont) regions. In Cornbelt II, continuing strong demand from livestock operations led to an overall increase
in workers, despite unfavorable field conditions during the reference week.
In the Northeast I region, a jump in demand for greenhouse and vegetable workers, plus unseasonably warm temperatures and favorable field conditions, led to the increase over April 2012.
The largest percentage decreases in the number of hired workers from a year earlier occurred in the Appalachian II (Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia) and Mountain I (Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming) regions. In the Appalachian II region, unfavorable field conditions and sizeable delays in principal crop seeding kept workers from the field, and livestock worker demand also dropped.
In Mountain I, relatively cool and wet conditions had the same affect. In general, worker numbers were below 2012 levels for many states which saw unseasonably bad weather during the April reference week.
Average wage rates for all hired workers were above the previous year rates in the majority of regions. The largest increases occurred in the Southern Plains (Oklahoma and Texas) and Appalachian II regions. In both regions, higher proportions of high wage and salaried workers accompanied contractions in worker numbers over the 2012 reference week.
January Reference Week
For the January 2013 reference week, the largest percentage increases in the number of hired workers from January 2012 occurred in the Cornbelt II (Iowa and Missouri) and Northeast II (Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania) regions. The Cornbelt II region saw increased demand for livestock workers, and especially seasonal help, with expanding livestock inventories. Similarly, a jump in labor demand from livestock operations drove the Northeast II increase in workers.
The largest percentage decreases in the number of hired workers from last year occurred in Florida and the Cornbelt I (Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio) region. In Florida, worker demand returned to historic levels after a spike in field worker numbers accompanied a January 2012 freeze event. In the Cornbelt I region, cooler and wetter conditions meant fewer workers compared to an unusually warm and dry 2012 reference week.
Average wage rates for all hired workers were above the previous year rates in the majority of regions. The largest increases occurred in the Cornbelt II and Southern Plains (Oklahoma and Texas) regions. In Cornbelt II, increases in wage rates across all workers types combined with a greater percentage of salaried employees. In Southern Plains, a higher proportion of high wage and salaried workers accompanied a contraction in worker numbers over the 2012 reference week.