USDA Northeastern Region farm labor report
Number of hired workers rises 3 percent in October
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There were 797,000 workers hired directly by farm operators on the Nation's farms and ranches during the week of Oct. 6-12, 2024, up 3% from the October 2023 reference week. Workers hired directly by farm operators numbered 808,000 during the week of July 7-13, 2024, up 3% from the July 2023 reference week.
Farm operators paid their hired workers an average gross wage of $19.11 per hour during the October 2024 reference week, up 2% from the October 2023 reference week. Field workers received an average of $18.57 per hour, up 2%. Livestock workers earned $17.51 per hour, up 2%. The field and livestock worker combined gross wage rate, at $18.27 per hour, was up 2% from the 2023 reference week. Hired laborers worked an average of 41.4 hours during the October 2024 reference week, down 1%t from the hours worked during the October 2023 reference week.
Farm operators paid their hired workers an average gross wage of $18.95 per hour during the July 2024 reference week, up 2% from the July 2023 reference week. Field workers received an average of $18.36 per hour, up 2%, while livestock workers earned $17.36 per hour, up 2% from a year earlier. The field and livestock worker combined gross wage rate, at $18.08 per hour, was up 2% from the July 2023 reference week. Hired laborers worked an average of 40.6 hours during the July 2024 reference week, down 1% from the hours worked during the July 2023 reference week.
Northeast Region I
There were 46,000 workers hired directly by farms during the week of Oct. 6-12, 2024. All hired workers worked an average of 40.9 hours during the survey week. The average wage rate for all hired workers was $19.82 per hour. Field workers earned an average of $19.22 per hour and livestock workers averaged $17.97 per hour. Field and livestock workers combined earned an average of $18.81 per hour.
There were 47,000 workers hired directly by farms during the week of July 7-13, 2024. All hired workers worked an average of 40.2 hours during the survey week. The average wage rate for all hired workers was $19.37 per hour. Field workers earned an average of $18.75 per hour and livestock workers averaged $18.15 per hour. Field and livestock workers combined earned an average of $18.56 per hour.
Northeast Region II
There were 34,000 workers hired directly by farms during the week of Oct. 6-12, 2024. All hired workers worked an average of 39.0 hours during the survey week. The average wage rate for all hired workers was $19.22 per hour. Field workers earned an average of $18.27 per hour and livestock workers averaged $17.37 per hour. Field and livestock workers combined earned an average of $18.04 per hour.
There were 37,000 workers hired directly by farms during the week of July 7-13, 2024. All hired workers worked an average of 37.5 hours during the survey week. The average wage rate for all hired workers was $19.13 per hour. Field workers earned an average of $18.14 per hour and livestock workers averaged $17.37 per hour. Field and livestock workers combined earned an average of $17.96 per hour.