Located in:
- Program-Specific Requirements for Wagner-Peyser Program (Employment Services)
All Program-Specific Requirements provided for the WIOA core programs in this section must be addressed for either a Unified or Combined State Plan.
e. 3. An assessment of the unique needs of farmworkers means summarizing Migrant and Seasonal Farm Worker (MSFW) characteristics (including if they are predominantly from certain countries, what language(s) they speak, the approximate number of MSFWs in the State during peak season and during low season, and whether they tend to be migrant, seasonal, or year-round farmworkers). This information must take into account data supplied by WIOA Section 167 National Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP) grantees, other MSFW organizations, employer organizations, and State and/or Federal agency data sources such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Employment and Training Administration
Current Narrative:
Depending on the program definition of farm worker or migrant farm worker, it is difficult to determine the actual number of farmworkers in Colorado. Using the Wagner-Peyser definition, Colorado estimates anywhere between 12,000-20,000 seasonal workers each year including individuals on foreign labor contracts. Colorado has seen a decrease in local farm workers and a larger decrease of migrant farm workers. Housing is the biggest issue migrant farm workers have, unless they already have family in the area, it is difficult to find housing even in designated farmworker housing units. As a result, it makes it more difficult to work in farm-related jobs. Many can only afford housing in lower-quality and lower-cost areas which require longer commuting times. Lack of affordable daycare also poses a significant barrier to employment as available daycare is limited and expensive.
The majority of the farm worker population in Colorado are seasonal workers. Even though we continue to have migrant farm workers travel to Colorado from other states, the majority of our migrant farmworker population are here under an H-2A contract. Domestic migrant farm workers travel from Texas, Arizona and New Mexico into Colorado.
Mexico continues to be the predominant county of origin for farmworkers in Colorado. The majority of the farm worker population are foreign born individuals from Mexico and other countries in Central America, with many lacking authorization to work legally in the United States.
The primary language spoken among our farmworkers is Spanish. Some of our farmworkers from certain parts of Mexico, Guatemala and El Salvador may speak indigenous dialects such as Huichol, Mayan Yucatan, Mixteco-Nahuatl, Trique-Tarasco and Zapotec languages. With these dialects, it is challenging to find translation services. The language barrier can make it difficult to communicate with outreach workers or partner agencies.
Partner agencies have commented that the lack of legal status has become a barrier to employment and in some cases services that can be provided. Even those who can receive services are afraid of providing any personal information to agencies. They are fearful that releasing any information will affect their immigration status in the future.