Hispanic labor in the swine industry may become more important as the U.S. faces labor shortages. The aging U.S. population and declining birth rates mean there will be fewer young workers. Hispanics currently make up over 15% of the U.S. population and that number is growing rapidly. They tend to have younger families and are more willing to do the physical labor required in the swine industry. Employers that understand Hispanic culture and help workers integrate may find Hispanic employees can help address future labor needs.

1. Hispanic Labor in the
Swine Industry…
a Thing of the Past?
Orlando Gil
Training Connections-Translation Services
“Helping Bridge the Gap
with the Latino Workforce in
the Agricultural Industry”
World Pork Expo
June 4th, 2009

2. Why This Topic?
 Labor shortage predicted?
 Aging of America
 76 million baby boomers reaching
retirement age?
 On-going evaluation of alternative
labor options?

3. # of Lost Jobs
US Bureau of Labor Statistics
0
January February March April
-100,000
-200,000
-300,000
-400,000
-500,000
-539,000
-600,000
-700,000
-681,000 -699,000
-741,000
-800,000

4. Unemployment Rates
Jan08-Apr09
16.0%
15.0%
14.0%
12.6% 13.3%
11.9% 13.4%
12.0%
11.4% 11.3% 11.3% 11.3%
10.7%
11.4%
10.9%
10.0%
9.2% 9.0% 8.8% 9.9%
9.7% 9.7% Black
8.4% 9.4%
9.2% 8.0%
8.0% 8.8% 8.6% Latino
8.1% 7.9% 7.9% White
6.5% 6.3% 7.7% 7.5% 7.3%
7.0% 7.0% 7.0% 6.9%
6.0% 6.6%
6.0% 6.2%
4.4% 4.4% 4.5% 4.4% 5.5% 5.5%
5.0% 5.2%
4.9%
4.0%
2.0%
0.0%
y y ch il ay st r er r r y y ch il
ar ar pr ne ly be be be ar ar pr
nu ru ar M Ju Ju ug
u ob nu ru ar
b M A em ct em
ce
m
b M A
Ja Fe
A pt O ov Ja Fe
Se N De
Source: Labor Bureau April 09

5. New Entrants to Labor Force
Jan-Dec 2008
800
700
600
500
54%
% of New Labor Mkt Entrants
400 Civilian Workforce In Thousands
37%
300
200
9%
100
0
Total Labor Force Latino Black White
Source: National Council of La Raza 09

6. Labor Shortage
in Swine Industry
 Age 25-30
 1990 – 26.7%
 2000 – 17.8%
 2005 – 14.8%
 Decrease of 44.5% in 15 yrs
 How do we deal with the shortage?
Survey by NPB 2005

7. Average Age of Principal Operator
58
56
54
52
50
48
46
1978 1982 1987 1992 1997 2002 2007
USDA 2007

9. Who is Going to
Care for These Pigs?

10. Labor Shortage…
 We need someone that can
do the work!
 We need someone that is
willing to do the work!

11. Some of the Labor Challenges in
Production Agriculture…
 Distance to work location – transportation
costs, time
 Dirty job, physical
 Long hours
 Holidays, weekends
 Hot/cold environments
 Mainstream perception

12. What Are Some of The Options?
 Labor options
 Mature workers
 Young workers
 Physically challenged
 Immigrant work force
 Hispanics

13. Hispanic
Workforce…
A Solution to a Growing
Challenge?

14. Why Consider Hispanics?
1) Change in demographics
2) Change in demographics
3) Change in demographics

15. Demographic Changes
 Diversity has increased
 More women and minority
operators
 More operators working off-
farm
 Farmers continue to get older

16. Hispanic Population in the United
States: 1970 to 2050 102.6
Population in millions 87.6
73.0
59.7
47.8
35.3
22.4
14.6
9.6
1970 1980 1990 2000 2010* 2020* 2030* 2040* 2050*
Census Projections*
*Projected Population as of July 1
US Census Bureau 2006 16
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1970, 1980, 1990, and 2000 Decennial Censuses; Population Projections, July 1, 2010 to July 1, 2050

17. 17

18. 18

19. 19

20. 20

21. 21

22. Hispanic Demographics
 Largest minority in the United States
 More than 45 million strong and growing
 ~15.1% of total population
 1 out of every 3 workers entering workforce
 Will reach 132.8 million by 2050
 More than 30% of total population
 More than 55% of its workers
Source: Pew Hispanic Center 2008

23. Population Trends for USA
 438 million in 2050 – USA will grow 48%
 82% increase due to immigrants and their
US descendants
 1 in 5 will be an immigrant
 Whites will become minority (47%)
 Nation‟s elderly will double in size
 By 2025, 1 out of 2 people born will be
Hispanic
Source: US Census Bureau 2008

24. Fastest Growth Rates in the
Country
U.S. Population Annual Growth Rate 2000-2006
4.1%
3.0%
1.3%
1.1%
Total U.S. Hispanic African-American Asian-American
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2006

25. Why Consider Hispanics?
 United States built on immigration
 Immigration direction
 East to west
 South to north

26. Melting Pot Vs. Salad Bowl?
 English
 Germans
 Irish
 Swedish
 Norwegians
 Polish
 Hispanics

27. Melting Pot Vs. Salad Bowl?
 English
 Germans
 Irish
 Swedish
 Norwegians
 Polish
 Hispanics

29. Hispanics Have Younger & Larger Families
Hispanic Total U.S.
Median Age: 27.6 Median Age: 36.6
HH Size: 3.5 HH Size: 2.6
Source: Census, American Community Survey, 2007

32. Blanca Josefina
Ernesto José Ricardo José Orlando José Jr.
Carlos José
Alfredo José
Garrett José
Tanner José
Orlando José Sr.
Herman José
José Rafael

33. Neco José
Nina
Josefina

34. Oreo José

35. Bento José
Perpetua Josefina

36. With more than 45 Million Hispanics, U.S. is
Now 2nd Largest Latin American ‘Country’ in the
World
 Hispanic Population in the World
 Mexico – 108.2 million
 USA – 45.5 million
 Spain – 40.4 million
 Colombia – 43 million
 Argentina – 39 million
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2008

37. Understanding Hispanics…
Where are we from? Other Hispanic
South American, 3%
 South American 5%
 Argentine Dominican
 Bolivian 3%
 Chilean Mexican
 Colombian Cuban
 Ecuadorian 4% 67%
 Paraguayan
 Peruvian
 Uruguayan Central American
 Venezuelan 9%
Puerto Rican
 Central American 9%
 Costa Rican
 Guatemalan
 Honduran
 Nicaraguan
 Panamanian
 Salvadorian
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2006

38. Reasons Why Hispanics
Are Coming to the USA…
 Opportunities
 The American dream
 Economics
 Poverty
 Looking for a better life
 Money
 Family in the U.S.
 Political situation in country of origin

39. Will We Stay?
 1st Generation Hispanics
 Will they go back to die in country of origin?
 2nd Generation Hispanics
 May go back to see “what‟s the big deal”
 Will some stay?
 3rd Generation and beyond
 Why would we want to go back?

40. Fluency in the English Language
 1st Generation – 23%
 2nd Generation – 88%
 3rd+ Generation – 94%
Pew Hispanic Center
2006

41. $$$ Spent on Advertising…
Broadcasting Media Partners $192,790,531
Procter & Gamble Corp $175,190,922
AT&T Inc $127,552,062
General Motors Corp $110,350,867
Toyota Motor Corp $108,015,836
McDonalds Corp $107,282,828
Verizon Communications $100,233,695
US Government $90,886,141
Johnson & Johnson $86,577,477
Sears Holding Corp $77,234,453
Ford Motor Corp $68,413,148
Wal-Mart Stores Inc $64,791,992
Hispanic Business May „09

44. Successful Employers will…
 Overcome language barriers
 Will learn about the culture and share
their own
 Develop an organizational culture that
accepts and appreciates the differences
that individual employees bring to the
workplace
 Clearly communicate expectations so that
these are understood and followed by all
employees

45. Successful Employers will…
 Communicate the organization‟s vision
 Implement from the “top” down
 Help Hispanic employees integrate to the
team, organization and community
 Be active in their communities and be an
advocate for their employees

46. Hispanic Labor in the
Swine Industry…
a Thing of the Past?

47. Support for this presentation was provided
by the National Pork Board and the Pork
Checkoff.

48. ¡Gracias
!

49. For More Information…
Orlando Gil
Training Connections
Translation Services
translat@mtcnet.net
712-240-0624