The H-2A visa program is growing rapidly in North Carolina. The number of positions certified in the last five years has steadily increased (Figure 1). The top employer of H-2A workers in the state (and the country) is the North Carolina Grower’s Association, which certified more than 10,000 positions in 2020 (Table 1). While most of the employers certifying H-2A positions are based in North Carolina, others are located in neighboring states like Florida. The H-2A program is widely used across the state. The highest number of positions certified in 2020 was for workers in Moore County (over 10,500) (Table 2).
Note: For more information on the H-2A visa program check the NC State Economist article The H-2A Visa Program: Addressing Farm Labor Scarcity in North Carolina.
Figure 1. Number of H-2A Positions Certified in North Carolina: 2016-2021
Figure 2. Map of the Top 10 Counties by Worksite Location of H-2A Positions in North Carolina in 2020
Sources
H-2A Fiscal Year 2020 Performance data. (2021). Office of Foreign Labor Certification. US Department of Labor.
H-2A Temporary Agricultural Program. Selected Statistics, Multiple Years. (2021). Employment and Training Administration. Office of Foreign Labor Certification. US Department of Labor.
Publication date: July 6, 2021
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