The United States' poor housing market has had a silver lining for farmers, but is causing hardship for Hispanic workers, according to a recent Wall Street Journal article. Many Hispanic immigrants who lost construction jobs are returning to the fields in search of work.
Not too long ago, farmers were expressing concerns about labor shortages. Now, Fresno farmer Pat Ricchiuti Jr. said "there is plenty of help," according to the story.
Wall Street Journal reporter Miriam Jordon spoke to UC Davis agricultural economist Phil Martin for his take on the issue.
"During the construction boom, people were leaving the fields to get paid on an hourly basis rather than on a piece-rate basis," Martin was quoted. "Now, construction is not adding workers, and the gap between construction and farm wages has narrowed."
The article said both field work and construction jobs now pay about $10 per hour. The story noted that a Pew Hispanic Center analysis released last week found that foreign-born Hispanics have been disproportionately affected the construction downturn, but have moved into other occupations rather than return to their countries of origin.