There were 37,000 workers hired directly by farms in the Lake Region (Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin) during the reference week of Jan. 7-13, according to the latest U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service Farm Labor report.
Farm operators paid their hired workers an average wage rate of $19.90 per hour, $1.05 above January 2023. The number of hours worked averaged 38.6 for hired workers during the reference week, compared with 39.8 hours in January 2023.
During the reference week of April 7-13, there were 49,000 workers hired directly by farms in the Lake Region. Farm operators paid their hired workers an average wage rate of $19.17 per hour during the April 2024 reference week, 25 cents above April 2023. The number of hours worked averaged 39.8 for hired workers during the reference week, compared with 40.1 hours in April 2023.
There were 618,000 workers hired directly by farm operators on the nation’s farms and ranches during the week of April 7-13, down 5% from the April 2023 reference week. Workers hired directly by farm operators numbered 496,000 during the week of Jan. 7-13, down 3% from the January 2023 reference week.
Farm operators paid their hired workers an average wage of $18.98 per hour during the April 2024 reference week, up 5% from the April 2023 reference week. Field workers received an average of $18.25 per hour, up 6%. Livestock workers earned $17.43 per hour, up 6%.
The field and livestock worker combined wage rate, at $17.98 per hour, was up 6% from the 2023 reference week. Hired laborers worked an average of 40.6 hours during the April 2024 reference week, unchanged from the hours worked during the April 2023 reference week.
Farm operators paid their hired workers an average wage of $19.49 per hour during the January 2024 reference week, up 5% from the January 2023 reference week. Field workers received an average of $18.51 per hour, up 5%, while livestock workers earned $17.52 per hour, up 5% from a year earlier.
The field and livestock worker combined wage rate, at $18.10 per hour, was up 5% from the January 2023 reference week. Hired laborers worked an average of 38.7 hours during the January 2024 reference week, down 1% from the hours worked during the January 2023 reference week.
The complete report can be found on the USDA NASS website at www.nass.usda.gov/Publications.
