There is still a shortfall in labour supply on a significant number of horticultural farms, according to the latest Defra Seasonal Labour in Horticulture Survey.
In the second quarter of 2022, out of the 512 farms with horticulture that responded, 341 had no need for seasonal labour (67%). Of the 171 survey respondents who did need labour, 45% reported a shortfall The average shortfall for the entire quarter per farm with horticulture that needed seasonal labour was 114 person days. This equates to an 8% shortfall, according to the survey.
The average need for labour increased throughout the second quarter from 292 person days in April to 648 person days in June. The average shortfall increased from 24 person days in April to 46 in May and then decreased to 44 in June.
The research shows significant increases in the need for seasonal labour for each month throughout quarter 2 in 2022, whereas in 2021 the average need for labour gradually increased.
It also showed the quarter 2 figures for 2018 to 2022 for comparison The average person days needed and used by respondents in quarter 2 of 2022 was significantly higher than the same quarter in 2021, but the percentage shortfall for the quarter decreased from 16% in 2021 to 8% in 2022. The average person days needed and used in 2022 return to similar levels as in 2018 and 2019.
The lower figures reported in quarter 2 of 2021 are likely a result of the continued lack of seasonal labour available during and after the coronavirus pandemic. However, the response rate for quarter 2 of 2021 was lower than expected compared to quarter 2 in the other year’s shown and these results should be treated with caution.
The Seasonal Labour in Horticulture Survey is a voluntary, quarterly online survey that asks farms with horticulture how many person days their farm business needed from seasonal labour, and how many they actually used each month. Seasonal labour is defined in the survey as ‘those employed full-time or part-time on a casual / as required basis. The survey began in early 2018 to assess any potential shortfall in seasonal labour on farms with horticulture.