The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released the November Farm Labor Survey (FLS) on November 21. Wage data from the November Survey release is used by the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) to determine Adverse Effect Wage (AEWR) rates for states and regions in the U.S. AEWRs are typically released by USDOL in December for the following year.

For 2025, California’s AEWR will increase from $19.75 to $19.97, one of the smallest increases in the California AEWR in recent years. All states and regions saw increases this year besides the Lakes Region (the Upper Midwest) which dropped $.35. Also for 2025, California will not have the highest AEWR; that distinction will below to Hawaii, whose AEWR will $20.08.