H-2A Certifications Up 17 Percent So Far in 2026

The H-2A temporary agricultural worker program continues to grow rapidly, with the Labor Department certifying 17 percent more jobs during the first half of fiscal 2026 compared to a year earlier. The program allows U.S. growers to hire foreign workers for seasonal farm labor, helping producers fill critical labor shortages while providing workers with higher wages than they could typically earn in their home countries. Former American Farm Bureau Economist Samantha Ayoub reported in January that “the H-2A program continues to grow, with 13,358 more positions certified in fiscal year 2025 than fiscal year 2024. This marks the first year in program history that over 400,000 workers were requested, highlighting the continued domestic labor shortages American farmers and ranchers face.” These are positions that arise from a proven lack of domestic interest in the seasonal jobs. The H-2A program has grown 185 percent in the last ten years.

Source: AFBF