Employment Security Department: Frequently asked questions -- March 2009
Agriculture/farmworkers
Q. How many farmworkers are there in Washington?
A.
Average annual employment was 95,740 workers in 2008 and peak employment for 2008 was 135,630.
Q. Does Employment Security have any special programs or services for agricultural employers or workers?
A.
Yes. The department is committed to working with Washington’s agricultural employers to help meet their labor needs. In 2005, the department launched an Agricultural Initiative, which has since been expanded to help agricultural employers find skilled and qualified workers in a timely manner. WorkSource staff members have focused on increasing the number of jobs posted by growers and on recruiting a larger pool of experienced farmworkers. Contact Employment Security’s Communications Office at 360-902-0904 for the latest results from these efforts.
In addition, Employment Security assists with the federal Alien Employment Certification H2-A program, which allows agricultural employers to import foreign workers temporarily when there are not enough qualified U.S. workers available.
In addition, Employment Security assists with the federal Alien Employment Certification H2-A program, which allows agricultural employers to import foreign workers temporarily when there are not enough qualified U.S. workers available.
