Housing booms and <scp>H‐2A</scp> agricultural guest worker employment

This paper examines the effects of changes in housing demand on H-2A employment within commuting zones from 2001 to 2017. Agricultural employers who demonstrate that no workers domestic labor market are willing or able perform a seasonal temporary farm job can apply for certification hire guest through visa program. grew more than 450% between and 2019 45,000 258,000. is one first papers econometrically examine causal factors contributed growth employment. We find 1% increase leads 0.40%–0.97% also show suggestive evidence affect shifts nonfarm industries pull agricultural sector. Consistent with previous literature, we positive shocks lead increased construction other nontradable sectors traditionally immigrant workers. local wages, consistent an inward shift supply during booms.