Those of you that use the H-2A program are used to the Adverse Effect Wage Rate or AEWR. A couple of years ago, the DoL locked in the most common jobs on a farm, commonly known as the ‘big six’ job classifications as having the AEWR tied to the NASS Farm Labor Survey. Most jobs in H-2A fall into that category. There are some jobs, such as heavy truck drivers, that do not. For those jobs, the DoL has determined that the AEWR will be determined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Wage Survey (OEWS).

Tomorrow, the DoL will publish that the new OEWS wages will be effective. These data are published in April or May but become effective on the DoL’s publication of their notice. This will happen tomorrow for 33 states. The new wages will become effective on July 25 for the 17 states (including SC, GA and FL) that had sued the DoL in 2024 over the Worker Protection Rule.

For example a truck driver in Georgia would have an AEWR of $26.80 last year but will be $27.20 after the effective Date.

Employers can access the new rates for their state on the BLS website. 

The DoL Page on AEWR is found here.

As most are filing H-2A contracts soon we didn’t want you to get caught off guard that these new rates were coming into effect.

DSF