Will DAPA Fuel Farm Labor Shortage?

"Farmers already scrambling to find workers in California — the nation’s leading grower of fruits, vegetables and nuts — fear an even greater labor shortage under President Barack Obama’s executive action to block some 5 million people from deportation.  Thousands of the state’s farm workers, who make up a significant portion of those who will benefit, may choose to leave the uncertainty of their seasonal jobs for steady, year-around work building homes, cooking in restaurants and cleaning hotel rooms.  “This action isn’t going to bring new workers to agriculture,” said Jason Resnick, vice president and general counsel of the powerful trade association Western Growers. “It’s possible that because of this action, agriculture will lose workers without any mechanism to bring in new workers.” ... 

Cunha, who has advised the Obama administration on immigration policy, figures that 50,000 of the state’s farm workers who may benefit from the president’s executive action could leave the fields and packing houses in California’s $46.4 billion agricultural industry.  “How do I replace that?” he said. “I think we’re going to have a problem.”  Many farm workers are paid above minimum wage, earning more hourly than they will in other industries, but he said that workers that leave will gain year-around jobs and regular paychecks, rather than seasonal employment. ... 

Ed Kissam, an immigration researcher at the immigrant advocacy group, WKF Giving Fund, said he doubts a significant number of farm workers will leave the industry. Farm workers often lack the language, education and technical skills to move up the employment ladder, he said. “Surely some will,” Kissam said. “It’s not going to be a mass exodus.” " - Associated Press, Dec. 28, 2014.