By Jessica Domel
Multimedia Reporter
Farm and ranch workers across Texas and Oklahoma were in greater demand this quarter and earned more money, according to a new report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).
The Farm Labor Report reveals about 56,000 workers were hired Oct. 8-14. That’s up 10 percent from the same week in October 2016, but is lower than the July 9-15, 2017 reference week.
In July, farmers and ranchers in the two states hired 59,000 employees directly. That was up 13 percent from July 2016.
Farm workers are also making more money this quarter, according to the report.
In July, Texas farmers and ranchers reported the average wage was $12.16 an hour, up slightly from 2016.
In October, wages went up to an average of $12.32 per hour, an increase of one percent over October 2016 and one percent higher than July 2017.
Nationally, farmers and ranchers reported hiring 879,000 workers during the July reference week, which is up five percent over last year.
They hired 840,000 during the October reference week, up five percent over last year.
Farm and ranch operators reported paying an average wage of $13.23 an hour during July, up two percent over 2016, and $13.42 an hour in October, up one percent from last year.
Farm workers in July averaged 41.4 hours per week, up slightly from last year.
In October, workers across the nation averaged 41.6 hours per week, unchanged from last year.
The NASS October 2017 Farm Labor Survey was completed using data provided by farmers and ranchers in Oklahoma and Texas. Respondents were asked for the number of employees they hired, the hours they worked and wages made during the July and October reference weeks.
The full report is available here.