Immigrant Labor Makes Up 47% of Texas Agricultural Workforce

The American Immigration Council reported that in 2024, immigrant workers across various visa types accounted for 47 percent of "miscellaneous agricultural workers" in Texas. This reliance on foreign labor is tied to the H-2A temporary agricultural work visa program, which many farmers and ranchers want to maintain. The report also noted that Department of Labor statistics showed farmers advertised over 400,000 open positions in 2025, but only 183 U.S. workers applied for them.

The reliance on foreign workers is tied to ongoing debates over visa policies, such as the H-1B and H-2A visas. Some reports suggest that companies use certain visa types to save money and underpay workers. This situation highlights a labor shortage in Texas agriculture, despite farmers offering competitive wages.

The American Immigration Council has been discussing findings regarding the Texas food economy in Houston.