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# GRAPHIC: Just 3 states account for one-third of H-2A jobs, data shows
- URL: https://www.investigatemidwest.org/graphic-just-3-states-account-for-one-third-of-h-2a-jobs-data-shows/
- Published: 2023-05-31T20:47:09.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-23T18:11:08.000Z
- Description: Florida, California and Georgia farmers bring in the most agricultural workers through the temporary visa program.
- Author: Sky Chadde, Investigate Midwest
- Tags: Data Harvest, National, TP::Explainer, H-2A, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-06-18 04:56

The H-2A program — a visa program that allows U.S. employers to bring foreign workers to the country for temporary or seasonal jobs — has skyrocketed in popularity. In 2022, 47 states saw more H-2A workers than the year before, [according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture](https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/chart-gallery/gallery/chart-detail/?chartId=106604&cpid=email&ref=investigatemidwest.org).

Driving much of the increase is three states: Florida, California and Georgia. Each used to have large domestic workforces to draw from for agricultural labor, but farmers have turned to the visa program as the domestic farmworker population has [continued to age](https://www.investigatemidwest.org/graphic-the-people-who-pick-americas-fruits-and-vegetables-are-getting-older/).

Many workers on H-2A visas have complained about working and living conditions. For instance, H-2A workers in Missouri were [forced to live](https://www.investigatemidwest.org/these-farmworkers-were-forced-to-labor-on-empty-stomachs/) in an old jail.