It is nothing to go around the city and see signs all over asking for help. The Great Resignation has taken the economy by storm. Workers are wanting better wages and better treatment, or they simply will find ways to go into business for themselves. Others believe that the incentives to stay home and not work are to blame. Whichever it is, there is just a problem across the board.
Now, look at agriculture. It was suffering before the pandemic, and the need is just growing. The Ag sector relies heavily on guest worker programs that bring in help from other countries. Reform in that program has been long needed and called for almost continuously but to no avail. We are years down the road with no real end to the situation in sight.
American Farm Bureau Senior Economist Veronica Nigh says that there have been calls for change for a decade or more.
Rural America is seeing a smaller percentage of unemployment. That means there are fewer workers available locally to help them get their work done. That is why they rely heavily on guest workers.
While Ag has had this problem for a long time, we are seeing the issue grow into sectors in the supply chain. The need to bring in willing workers is great.
