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News 2021. Of those who did, 50% reported
AMERICANHORT A used new labor-saving technology in
investing at least $100,000 in labor-
from saving strategies. Interestingly, only
half of the respondents indicated
that technology reduced labor’s
share of their total operating costs.
Thus, despite making large capital
the Hill investments in technology, only
some growers found that it reduced
workforce costs.
Then there is the increase in the use
of the H-2A visa program. Thirty-five
percent of the growers surveyed
used the H-2A program in 2021.
Many grower respondents indicated
concerns with barriers to entry. A
Greenhouse and Nursery the extent to which labor-saving good number of horticultural jobs
Employment Survey Results technologies are helping mitigate are considered non-seasonal or year-
problems stemming from labor
It’s not been easy finding much round, and the H-2A visa program
information specific to our industry shortages. can only be used for jobs that are
workforce needs and challenges, Of the 443 growers from 33 states temporary or seasonal in nature.
so AmericanHort seized a rare and all regions of the United States The key takeaway from the survey
opportunity to collaborate on participating in the survey, roughly - despite taking actions to help
a Nursery and Greenhouse two-thirds reported difficulty hiring mitigate labor problems, many
Employment Survey with research the number of employees needed. farmers continue to face workforce
partners at the University of For every 100 workers growers challenges. With continued upward
California-Davis and Arizona State needed in 2021 to produce at full pressure on the workforce and input
University. The survey reporting capacity, they were only able to hire costs and ongoing negotiations on a
and responses clearly show that 82, triggering a wide array of coping Senate version of the Farm Workforce
workforce and employment issues strategies ranging from investing Modernization Act, the results of
are top-of-mind for greenhouse and in mechanization to substituting this survey will help AmericanHort
nursery growers nationwide. The crops that require less labor- characterize workforce challenges
purpose of the survey was to collect intensive treatment to cutting back and advocate for solutions to
information about how growers are production. Simply stated, with a address workforce supply challenges
adapting to reduced agricultural nearly 20 percent workforce shortage while helping to ensure that the
workforce availability, usage of the on average, the green industry is types of horticultural products that
H-2A program in the industry, and struggling, underperforming, and American consumers have become
finding every way accustomed to continue to be
possible to adapt.
produced domestically.
Growers are doing To receive a full copy of the survey
everything possible report and to download an
to adapt to the infographic summarizing survey
ongoing workforce results, go to AmericanHort.org/
scarcity crisis. EmploymentSurvey.
Nearly half of the
surveyed growers Sara Neagu-Reed
32 WINTER 2022 • Free State News
