April 10, 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Ruttan 119 and Zoom
Using individual-level high-frequency location data, we explore the relationship between temperature and farmworker labor in California.
When the weather is hot, we find that workers are less likely to show up for work. Workers substitute across time: workers work more during sunrise and sunset hours to avoid extreme heat. These effects are larger when the temperature exceeds 105F. We also examine heterogeneity in responses by crop perishability, farm size, and local climate.
Results suggest that employer-side labor demand decisions play a key role in shaping heat-related work adjustments.
Event Speaker
Tim Beatty, University of California