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US domestic workers' willingness to accept agricultural field jobs

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  • Jeff Luckstead
  • Rodolfo M. Nayga
  • Heather A. Snell

Abstract

Worker scarcity in US agricultural field jobs has occurred often, particularly before COVID‐19. Because US domestic workers typically forgo field jobs, their participation could potentially alleviate the scarcity. We implement an attribute‐based discrete choice experiment administered before and during COVID‐19 to evaluate US domestic workers' willingness to accept field jobs and valuation for non‐pecuniary benefits. Domestic workers' average pre‐pandemic reservation wage rate of $23.57 per hour was 68% larger than the 2019 national average field‐worker wage of $13.99. Non‐pecuniary benefits (insurance, housing, food allowance, and transportation) lower their reservation wage. Respondents' willingness to accept agricultural field work increased during the COVID‐19 pandemic.

Suggested Citation

  • Jeff Luckstead & Rodolfo M. Nayga & Heather A. Snell, 2023. "US domestic workers' willingness to accept agricultural field jobs," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 45(3), pages 1693-1715, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:apecpp:v:45:y:2023:i:3:p:1693-1715
    DOI: 10.1002/aepp.13321
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    References listed on IDEAS

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