Wagner-Peyser Act

Assessment of Need

Alabama is not identified by the U.S. Department of Labor as a significant Migrant Seasonal Farm Worker (MSFW) state, or among states with the highest estimated MSFW activity, relative to the MSFW program.

A review of the latest available statistics from the United States Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) 2012 Census of Agriculture revealed the number of farms in Alabama decreased significantly (-11.3%) since 2007 to number 43,228 in 2012. While all size categories registered losses, the steepest declines were found among smaller farms (less than 180 acres) which shrank 13.7%. Farms with 180 acres or more declined 3.5% during this period. Farm acreage also decreased (-1.4%) during this period. Agricultural employers number an estimated 1,500 in the state. During PY 2014, an estimated 200 agricultural job orders for almost 1,600 agricultural job openings were placed in Alabama Job Link, the state’s automated labor exchange. It is projected that PY 2015, job orders and job openings will remain unchanged or decline slightly from the preceding year.

The number of acres harvested for crops in Alabama, where historically MSFWs may be employed because of the crop’s need for hand harvesting, hand planting or both, have also declined. These crops and acreage are: Sweet Potatoes - 2,700; Potatoes -1,100; Tomatoes - 1,300; Sweet Corn - 1,200; Vegetables - 19,000; Watermelons - 3,100; and Peaches - 3,500 (Tons). Overall, total acreage for these labor intensive vegetable crops has also decreased over the last few years as many growers have switched to crops such as peanuts and feed corn which are highly mechanized in their production, thus necessitating the need for fewer agricultural manual workers.

An attempt to review and analyze agricultural hired farm labor, to include the number of MSFW employed and possible labor shortages in these labor intensive crops, found only summary total agricultural labor numbers available in the United States Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) 2012 Census of Agriculture. Detailed information was not found available by crop for labor. Lacking data on hired farm labor, estimates available through the Labor Exchange Agricultural Reporting System (LEARS) as determined in collaboration with WIA/MSFW grantee (Telamon Corp.), Alabama Livestock and Crop Reporting Service, Extension Service and Alabama Job Link were used to estimate the number of MSFWs in Alabama at approximately 200.

The estimated number of MSFW in PY 2014 appears to be down from the previous year’s estimates owing to fewer farms and the shift to more mechanized, less labor intensive crops. No significant change in MSFW is expected in the State in PY 2015. During PY 2014, it is estimated that sixty-three (63) MSFW registered for work in Alabama Job Link (AJL).

Assessment of MSFW numbers and needs, while difficult to ascertain, have been estimated from information and input from many sources such as WIA/MSFW 167 Grantee (Telamon Corp.), Alabama Livestock and Crop Reporting Service, Extension Service and other knowledgeable sources.

As a non-significant MSFW state, ASES cooperates and works closely with Telamon, WIOA 167 Grantee, to outreach, identify, and serve the state’s MSFWs. Through this agreement with Telamon, ASES is able to achieve many of the state’s outreach goals and determine needs to include employment, training and housing.

In PY 2015, Telamon (WIOA 167 grantee), partnering with One-stop Career Centers and with co-location in two (2) centers (Mobile and Huntsville), will require registration of all farm workers who enter through the WIOA, Title I, Section 167 door into Alabama Job Link, the state’s labor exchange system. The possibility of additional co-locations is also being explored. This collaboration is expected to increase the number of MSFW registered in AJL in PY 2015.

Assessment of Need (continued)

Through this agreement ASES and Telamon Corporation work cooperatively to combine resources for more efficient service delivery to MSFWs. This includes the provision of employment, training and housing assistance. ASES One-stop staff members make every effort to ensure appropriate resources are made available to MSFWs. Services may include assessment, counseling, job development, job referral, training, support services and job placement assistance.

Telamon and ASES plan to have regularly scheduled meetings with ALFA, The Alabama Coop, Alabama Department of Agriculture, and various other farm related agencies and several farmers have volunteered to participate in an effort to better reach farmworkers.

In consideration of agricultural industry and employment trends, and the small number of MSFWs in the state, the available resources for outreach would appear sufficient.