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We’ve all recently felt the pinch of inflation and supply chain shortages – particularly when we’re checking out at the grocery store or trying to enjoy a meal out.
But you may not realize that there is something that Congress can do to help lower prices, aid businesses in filling open positions, and benefit all Americans: pass agricultural immigration reforms.
We noted earlier this year that a contributing factor to our current labor shortage is our lowest net international migration levels in decades. In turn, inflation has surged, companies report lost opportunities, and supply chains have been severely affected.
America’s agriculture and food industry relies heavily on migrant labor – and the impacts of labor shortages are hitting the sector particularly hard. The agricultural labor deficit in the U.S. reached record high levels in 2021 – and we are all paying the price, both literally and figuratively.
As Rebecca Shi, Executive Director of the American Business Immigration Coalition, noted in The Hill recently:
"Across every sector, businesses can’t find workers to fill open positions, even when they increase pay and benefits or go so far as to pay candidates to attend job interviews. There are 10.7 million job openings in the U.S., but only 5.7 million unemployed workers. Even if every unemployed American found a job, we would still have five million jobs unfilled. But for America’s broken immigration system, immigrant workers could fill many of these jobs — and it is U.S.-born citizens who would benefit the most from their contributions.
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A recent study by Texas A&M International University shows how much good fixing the farm labor shortage would do for farmers, workers, and American families who need nutritious meals at affordable prices. Researchers found that more migrant and H-2A guest workers are associated with lower inflation and lower food prices, including for milk, eggs, meat, fruits, and vegetables. More migrant and H-2A guest workers are also correlated with higher wages for American workers and lower unemployment."
Welcoming immigrants to the U.S. isn’t just the right thing to do – it benefits all of us by enriching our culture and economy. We can’t afford to delay any longer. Congress must pass the Farm Workforce Modernization Act - soon.
Thank you for all you do to advocate for immigrant workers,
Arturo Castellanos-Canales
Senior Policy & Advocacy Associate
National Immigration Forum
