Rochester Region Has Nation's Second-Highest Reliance on H-2A and H-2B Workers

NewsData.io · United States · Aug 5, 2026

A new study by Manifest Law ranks the Rochester/Finger Lakes region second nationally in seasonal foreign labor demand, with 81 H-2A and H-2B workers requested per 10,000 employees — nearly 60% above the national average of 53. The region's agriculture-heavy economy, including apple orchards, vineyards, and dairies, drives demand for over 4,000 seasonal foreign workers annually. The analysis, drawn from U.S. Department of Labor certification data through March 2026, highlights how persistent workforce shortages tied to demographic shifts and seasonal demand have made these visa programs increasingly critical to regional economies. Nationally, employers requested nearly 864,000 seasonal foreign workers in the period, with crop farmworkers and landscapers comprising the largest occupational categories.