North Dakota farmers are increasingly looking to foreign workers to fill open agricultural positions, with just under 500 jobs unfilled across the state in August, according to Job Service North Dakota. This trend, largely driven by the federal H-2A visa program, was discussed by Dustin Hillebrand, a workforce center manager for Job Service North Dakota, during a Wednesday panel on agricultural labor at the Big Iron Farm and Construction Show in Fargo. He noted that the demand for these workers "has grown substantially" because there aren’t enough local residents available for the work.
So far this year, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reported that 478 employers in North Dakota have been approved to hire seasonal foreign workers through the H-2A visa program. This program is designed to connect agricultural employers with workers when they cannot fill positions with American applicants. Many of these unfilled positions are located in the northeastern and south-central parts of the state, an area that includes Burleigh and Morton counties.
Hillebrand explained that farmers are hiring fewer North Dakotans for these roles primarily due to the state's very low unemployment rate and high workforce participation, meaning most residents who want jobs already have them. Another significant factor, according to Hillebrand, is that North Dakota’s average wages for farm workers are not competitive with those offered in neighboring states. As of the end of May 2025, the average wage for North Dakota farm workers ranged from $28,000 to $33,000. In contrast, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, South Dakota, and Nebraska offered average wages between $40,000 and $51,000.
Beyond wage disparities, Mark Martens, vice president of Agri Placements International, a company assisting with H-2A visa applications, noted that hard working conditions, the seasonal nature of farm work, and competition from better-paying industries like oil and gas also contribute to farmers struggling to find American workers. Martens emphasized that the H-2A visa program helps farmers bridge this labor gap, allowing them to maintain their operations rather than downsizing. Caleb Zook, director of business development at Agri Placements, added that the program also benefits workers, as they can earn significantly higher wages than in their home countries.
To qualify for H-2A workers, employers must first post their open positions locally and demonstrate they have not received applications from any qualified American citizens. A critical hurdle for many North Dakota farmers is the requirement to have coordinated worker housing ready for inspection as part of the application process. Hillebrand highlighted the ongoing rural housing shortage in North Dakota, explaining that there is insufficient housing for farm workers and competition from other community residents seeking homes.
In response to this housing challenge, many farmers unable to secure housing for their workers are finding alternative solutions. Hillebrand reported that some are providing transportation from neighboring communities, while others are building new homes or installing mobile homes on their own properties. He also mentioned the Spark Building Initiative, an effort in northeastern North Dakota aimed at increasing housing and promoting growth, expressing hope that it could help residents move out of rental units, thereby freeing up apartments for farm workers.
Hiring H-2A visa workers incurs substantial costs for employers. Zook stated that these expenses can vary, but an employer might anticipate spending $5,000 to $10,000 per worker. This figure covers application fees, approvals, and transportation from the worker's home country to the farm. Zook clarified that this amount is "basically just getting the worker to your farm," with additional costs for housing, workers’ compensation, and wages further increasing the total. The wages for H-2A visa workers are set by the federal government and fluctuate based on location and type of work. USCIS data shows that H-2A workers in North Dakota this year have been paid anywhere from $9.99 to over $30 per hour.
