National Agricultural Workers Survey History and Methods BLS International Training Seminar on Labor Market Information September 27, 2012 Daniel Carroll, DOL/ETA

Background NAWS is a national random survey of hired crop farm workers Establishment Survey It collects demographic, employment, and health information directly from farm workers through face-to-face interviews

Sample Size The annual sample size has fluctuated between 1,500 and 3,600, depending on Federal agency information needs and budgets Since 1989, over 57,000 workers have been interviewed Target FY 2012 sample size =1,500

History USDA Hired Farm Workforce Survey –1944 to 1986 –March supplement to the Current Population Survey –Employer survey 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act –Special Agricultural Worker (SAW) Provision –Replenishment Agricultural Worker (RAW) Provision NAWS began in 1988 (FY 1989) –farm worker exit rates, 1990 – 1993

History (1989-present) Helping Meet Federal Agency Information Needs Many Federal agencies use NAWS findings The current primary users are: –Department of Labor –Department of Health and Human Services National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Health Resources and Services Administration Administration for Children and Families –Environmental Protection Agency

Department of Labor (DOL) NAWS and other data are used in the allocation formula for the National Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP) NAWS data are also used to respond to various requests for information on the farm labor market

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) FY 1999, two NIOSH divisions began using the NAWS to collect injury and health data FY 2009, NIOSH added a mental health surveillance supplement Plans underway to revise the health supplement

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) In FY 2007, HRSA began supporting an increased sample size and analysis of health data HRSA is exploring the use of NAWS findings in population estimates

Administration for Children and Families (ACF) In FY 2008, ACF added questions on child care arrangements NAWS and other data will be used to estimate the Migrant and Seasonal Head Start-eligible population

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Since FY 2004, EPA has been using the NAWS to collect information on pesticide handlers Seven new questions on worker hygiene and clothes laundering practices will be added to the survey in October 2012

Meeting Additional Information Needs (1) Bureau of Economic Analysis –International Transactions Accounts Congressional Budget Office –The cost of immigration reform Immigration Reform Legislation –Estimating the population of unauthorized farm workers, how many workers would qualify for legalization, and how the farm labor market would adjust

Meeting Additional Information Needs (2) Census Bureau –Decennial Census undercounts Department of State, Summit of Americas –“Best Practices for Migrant Workers” North American Free Trade Agreement –Dispute resolution process under the North American Agreement on Labor Cooperation President’s Commissions –Migrant Education –Agricultural Workers –Immigration Reform

Methods Sampling (1) Problem - how to sample over time and through space? Over Time - –Not a snapshot but a rolling data collection with cycles - three times per year –Provides almost year-round interviewing –Seasonality measures used to apportion interviews across the three cycles

Methods Sampling (2) Through Space - –Regions –Farm Labor Areas –Counties –Farms

US Regions

Methods How the Data are Collected (1) Interviewers - highly trained, bilingual, able to engage both agricultural employers and farm workers, sensitive to cultural nuances Mostly work in teams of two

Methods How the Data are Collected (2) Contact growers and obtain permission Sample workers using established field procedures Interview workers in location and language suitable to the respondent Trust (confianza)

Survey Strengths (1) Good information on worker-and household-level characteristics Excellent for national characteristics Can combine four or more years for regional characteristics

Survey Strengths (2) NAWS findings can be used: –in a top-down, labor expenditure model to estimate the number of crop farm workers, nationally and at the state-level; and –to estimate and describe farm worker populations eligible for various Federal programs

Survey Strengths (3) Excellent data on various sub- populations, e.g. migrants, immigrants, newcomers 22 years of continuous data Public data for are available

Survey Limitations (1) Large survey design effects for some variables (an evaluation of the survey’s design is underway) All data are self-reported State data only for California and Florida With current sample size, four years of data are needed for regional estimates

Survey Limitations (2) Current questions do not always quite match Federal program eligibility requirements –However, there are reasonable proxies and the opportunity exists to modify the questions so that they better match eligibility requirements

NAWS Summary Because the NAWS is a national statistical sample with interviews carried out in all seasons, it can provide accurate national and regional information about crop workers, their families, work and migration patterns and social service needs. This information has many uses and audiences.

For Additional Information Background information on the NAWS, including survey methodology and public access data, is available at: Information may also be obtained from: Daniel Carroll