Reviewed August 2026 against NC Commerce Department, USDA NASS, and NC State University Cooperative Extension.

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North Carolina’s Workforce Agriculture Percent: The Real Number

North Carolina’s agriculture and agribusiness sector accounts for 19% of the state’s workforce — roughly 965,000 jobs — according to the NC Commerce Department and NC State University’s agricultural economics program, covering the 2024–2025 period. A narrower measure using NC State University and USDA NASS data on direct agricultural employment alone puts the figure closer to 16% for 2023. Both numbers are correct; they answer different questions, and which one you need depends on whether you mean “people who grow food” or “people whose paycheck depends on the food system.”

That range — 16% to 19%, depending on whether agribusiness (processing, distribution, equipment, inputs) is counted alongside on-farm labor — is the source of most of the conflicting figures circulating online, including the “20%” and “over 17%” numbers people search for. Below, we break down exactly which definition produces which number, how North Carolina stacks up against other US states, and where the real labor shortage in this sector sits: not in row-crop harvest labor, but in horticulture.

North Carolina’s Workforce-in-Agriculture Percentage: Two Figures, One State

There is no single official “North Carolina agriculture workforce percent.” There are two credible figures from two different measurement approaches, and both are current as of the sources’ most recent published cycle:

The 19% agribusiness figure is the one the NC Commerce Department publishes on its Agricultural Workforce program page, and it is the number worth citing if you’re asked “what percent of North Carolina’s workforce is in agriculture” without further qualification, since it reflects the full economic footprint the state itself tracks. The 16% figure is more useful if you specifically need on-farm headcount — for labor planning, wage benchmarking, or comparing North Carolina against USDA’s national farm-employment series, which also measures direct farm jobs rather than the broader agribusiness chain.

Neither figure supports the frequently searched “20%” claim as an exact number — 19% is the closest verified figure, and it rounds to 20% only if you drop the decimal. If you’ve seen “20%” cited elsewhere, it is very likely a rounded version of the 19% agribusiness figure rather than a separate, distinct statistic.

How North Carolina Compares Nationally

Nationally, agriculture makes up just 1.57% of total US employment, per World Bank and USDA Economic Research Service data for 2023. That makes North Carolina’s 16–19% share strikingly concentrated by national standards — roughly 10 to 12 times the US average, whichever of the two NC figures you use.

North Carolina is not the most agriculture-dependent state by workforce share, however. USDA NASS and Bureau of Labor Statistics data for 2023–2024 put Wyoming at 9.5% and North Dakota at 8.2% — both well above the 1.57% national average, but below either of North Carolina’s figures. That gap matters: it means North Carolina’s agricultural workforce concentration is driven less by a single dominant commodity (as in Wyoming’s ranching economy or North Dakota’s grain belt) and more by the sheer diversity and scale of its agribusiness chain — tobacco, poultry, hogs, soybeans, sweet potatoes, and a large food-processing and distribution base layered on top of direct farm labor.

For readers benchmarking a specific state economy against North Carolina’s, the source comparison is USDA NASS’s state-level employment series alongside the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, which both agencies update on a rolling basis — so a state ranking pulled in one quarter can shift by the next.

Horticulture Workforce Solutions: The 20% Vacancy Problem

Separately from the state employment-share question, “horticulture workforce solutions” is its own search — and it points to a different, more urgent number. AmericanHort’s industry survey, reported by Greenhouse Grower for the 2021–2024 period, found that the US horticulture sector runs with an average 20% workforce shortage — meaning roughly one in five positions across nurseries, greenhouses, and landscape operations goes unfilled at any given time. In response, 65% of US nurseries surveyed in the same period raised wages specifically to address the gap.

This is a national figure, not a North Carolina-specific one — the brief’s sources do not break out a state-level horticulture employment count for North Carolina, and that breakdown does not appear to be published separately from the broader agriculture workforce figures above. If you need a North Carolina-specific horticulture headcount, the two paths worth trying are NC State University’s Cooperative Extension (ces.ncsu.edu), which publishes commodity- and sector-level economic impact studies periodically, and a direct request to AmericanHort for any state-level breakout of their survey data.

A 20% vacancy rate is structurally different from a general labor shortage — it means horticulture operations are routinely running at 80% of planned staffing, which shows up as delayed potting, missed shipping windows, and overtime costs rather than an outright inability to operate. That distinction matters for anyone designing a workforce solution: the fix for a chronic 1-in-5 vacancy rate (retention, wage competitiveness, cross-training) looks different from the fix for a seasonal spike (temporary recruitment, forecasting).

What Farm Work Pays: US Wage Data

Wage data is where an AI summary usually stops short, because it dates fast — but it’s also the number hiring managers and jobseekers actually need. USDA NASS’s Farm Labor Survey put the average gross hourly wage for all hired US farm workers at $19.10 for 2024, and $18.42 for field workers specifically. The same survey counted 808,000 workers hired directly by US farms during its July 2024 reference week.

The brief’s sources do not include a state-by-state wage breakdown for North Carolina specifically, nor a comparison against non-agricultural median wages — those splits are not published in the aggregate national releases we drew from. USDA NASS’s Farm Labor Survey is released quarterly, typically in January, April, July, and October; the Farm Labor Survey page is the place to pull the current-quarter rate rather than relying on a number that ages the moment a new release lands.

Core Challenges and Workforce Solutions in Agriculture

The core challenges facing the North Carolina agricultural workforce include labor shortages during seasonal peaks, a skills mismatch as mechanization and precision tools spread faster than training programs, and wage pressure that squeezes margins even as the $19.10/hour national average (2024) climbs. These aren’t abstract pressures — they show up directly in the horticulture sector’s 20% vacancy rate above, and in wage responses like the 65% of nurseries raising pay to compete.

• Seasonal tasks (harvest, weeding, transplanting) create unpredictable labor spikes
• Integration of modern equipment and precision-ag technologies demands upskilling
• Rising wage expectations, evidenced by the $19.10/hour 2024 national average, put pressure on thin margins

Solution Pathways:

1. Aligning labor forecasting with crop calendars and market trends
2. Designing training programs for both foundational and advanced skills
3. Deploying economic incentives and policy support to attract and retain workers
4. Embracing technological integration to blend traditional and tech-focused roles
5. Smoothing the transition from classroom to field, ensuring a stable talent pipeline

Forecasting and Aligning Workforce with Crop Calendars

One of the most effective workforce strategies is accurate labor forecasting. By anticipating when needs spike in line with crop calendars, farms can deploy timely recruitment and avoid downtime or lost yield — a direct lever against the kind of chronic vacancy horticulture operations report.

• Technological tools help track plant growth cycles and resource requirements in real time
• Farmers and employers can synchronize recruitment with seasonal peaks, improving efficiency
• Systems integrating market demand analytics refine labor strategy ahead of the season, not during it

Training and Upskilling: Building a Robust Workforce

Training and upskilling remain foundational to agriculture workforce solutions. Hands-on instruction, safety training, pesticide certification, and equipment operation are critical for maximizing productivity and resilience — particularly in a state where agribusiness accounts for 965,000 jobs (NC Commerce, 2024–2025) spanning far more than field labor.

• Programs blending practical skills with advanced technology instruction boost both efficiency and crop yield quality
• Integrated pest management, precision farming, and equipment maintenance are now essential skill sets
• Extension services and cooperative models spread training costs while lifting overall community competency

Talent Pipeline & Career Pathways in North Carolina

Creating accessible pathways into agriculture careers ensures a steady pipeline of skilled technicians, field workers, and future farm managers — a necessity given that agribusiness alone represents 19% of the state’s workforce (NC Commerce, 2024–2025).

• High school and community college outreach exposes students to diverse agriculture roles
• Veteran transition programs tap into experienced and disciplined labor pools
• Apprenticeship models merge on-the-farm learning with theoretical instruction
• Accessible resources (language support, transport, flexible schedules) broaden participation

A stable, growing share of workforce in North Carolina agriculture is achievable when career progression and wage growth — anchored to figures like the $19.10/hour 2024 national average — are built into workforce initiatives rather than treated as an afterthought.

Economic Incentives & Policy Support in Agriculture Workforce Solutions

Policy frameworks and economic incentives are vital for attracting and retaining agricultural labor in North Carolina:

• Recruitment and training subsidies reduce onboarding and upskilling costs for employers
• Wage subsidies help retain skilled workers during off-peak seasons
• Visa policies that balance farm labor demand with fair practices address seasonal labor shortages, relevant given the 808,000 workers hired directly by US farms during the July 2024 reference week
• Data-driven labor analytics optimize workforce strategy, aligning staffing with productive periods and reducing waste

Technology Adoption & Its Intersection With Workforce Strategy

Technology is reshaping North Carolina’s farming practices in ways that directly change what “workforce” means:

• Automated harvesters, autonomous tractors, and sensor networks reduce labor needs for repetitive tasks
• Workforce demand shifts toward technicians skilled in equipment calibration, network maintenance, and data analysis
• Training programs must offer dual tracks: practical field skills and digital literacy

These advancements position North Carolina to keep pace with — and in the diversity of its agribusiness base, exceed — states with a narrower but deeper agricultural footprint like Wyoming (9.5%) and North Dakota (8.2%), creating opportunities for skilled roles that drive both productivity and rural economic growth.

Comparison Table of Workforce Solutions and Their Impact on North Carolina Agriculture Productivity

The adoption rates and productivity ranges below reflect general industry patterns for these solution categories rather than a single published NC-specific study; treat them as planning benchmarks and validate against your own operation’s records.

Tool: Horticulture Labor-Gap Calculator

Use the AmericanHort-reported 20% average vacancy rate as a starting benchmark, then enter your own crew size and wage to see your position-gap and the wage-increase cost of closing it the way 65% of surveyed nurseries did.

Assumptions: uses the AmericanHort 20% average horticulture vacancy rate (2021–2024) as a benchmark only, not a prediction for any specific operation. Wage cost estimate covers only base hourly pay for currently filled roles — it excludes payroll taxes, benefits, overtime premiums, and the cost of recruiting to fill open positions. Your actual vacancy rate and cost of competing for labor will depend on your region, crop mix, and local wage market.

Visual List ✔️: Workforce Best Practices

• Blend traditional and tech-based training programs for holistic worker development
• Apply accurate forecasting to match hiring with field peaks
• Cultivate community partnerships for accessible education and upskilling opportunities
• Incorporate digital platforms for real-time work allocation and monitoring
• Regularly review labor market trends, including quarterly USDA NASS wage releases, for proactive hiring strategies

Agriculture Workforce Solutions: Practical Applications in NC

Everyday farming operations in North Carolina depend on intelligently matching workforce availability to crop cycles and market demand:

• Crop Calendars:
  Using predictive analytics, farms forecast labor needs for planting, peak growth, and harvest, reducing the odds of hitting the kind of chronic vacancy horticulture reports at a 20% average.
• Modular Training Programs:
  Hands-on field sessions address basic tasks (planting, weeding, harvest) alongside advanced modules (satellite monitoring, remote machinery control).
• Upgrading Career Pathways:
  Career laddering helps seasonal and entry-level workers, earning wages near the $19.10/hour national average (2024), graduate to supervisory or technology-specialized roles.
• Access & Inclusion:
  Removing barriers (language, mobility, flexible hours) grows the available local labor pool.

Combined, these solutions reinforce North Carolina’s position as one of the more agriculture-concentrated state economies in the country — its 16–19% workforce share sits well above the 1.57% US national average (2023, World Bank/USDA ERS), even if it trails narrower single-commodity states like Wyoming on a strict farm-employment basis.

Visual List ⚠️: Workforce Solution Risks and Limitations

• Underestimating technology training needs may slow technology adoption rates
• Lack of alignment between classroom instruction and field requirements wastes training resources
• Ignoring language/barrier issues can alienate potential local labor sources
• Over-reliance on seasonal or migrant labor may create instability, particularly given that 808,000 workers were hired directly by US farms in the July 2024 reference week alone
• Insufficient data on workforce demographics impacts forecasting and future planning

Farmonaut’s Role in Agricultural Workforce Solutions

At Farmonaut, we recognize that workforce solutions are not just about labor numbers, but about empowering farms through data and technology. Our satellite-driven platform helps North Carolina farmers, employers, and boards make better decisions, optimize field operations, and respond faster to challenges.

• Satellite-Based Monitoring: Enables real-time crop and soil health tracking, guiding efficient allocation of labor for planting, weeding, and harvesting phases.
• AI Advisory Systems (Jeevn AI): Provide custom strategies and weather insights, minimizing downtime and risk for on-field workers.
• Blockchain Traceability: Supports transparent supply chains, essential for compliance, reporting, and market access — critical for farm labor accountability.
• Fleet and Equipment Management: Enhances the allocation and safety of machinery and human operators, reducing operational costs and boosting productivity.
• Environmental Impact Tools: Track resource use and carbon footprint for compliance and sustainability — aligning North Carolina agriculture operations with modern workforce and market demands.

Farmonaut Tools: Enhancing Workforce Efficiency

Our platform and apps are engineered to make advanced agriculture workforce solutions accessible to all — from individual farm owners to large-scale agricultural enterprises in North Carolina.

• 
  Farmonaut Web App — Empower your team with real-time monitoring, crop health intelligence, and efficient resource management.
• 
  Get it on Google Play
• 
  Available on the App Store
• API Access — Directly integrate satellite and workforce efficiency data with your existing farm management systems.
• API Developer Docs — Seamless documentation for adapting Farmonaut tools to your unique agriculture workforce and operations requirements.

Interested in compliance and environmental responsibility? Check out our Carbon Footprinting Solution to monitor and manage emissions from farm activities, contributing to sustainable agricultural workforce practices.

Need automated supply chain reporting? Discover Blockchain-based Traceability for improved transparency and credibility — useful for farms employing a diverse team and aiming for traceable, sustainable production.

Enhance your large-scale operations: Try our Large Scale Farm Management Tool — ensure coordination between equipment, technicians, and field workers for optimal workforce allocation.

Looking for farm fleet optimization? Our Fleet Management Solution helps schedule and route vehicles and machines, reducing wasted labor hours and equipment downtime.

Crop loans and insurance validations made simple! Explore Satellite-verified Crop Loan and Insurance, providing North Carolina farms with reliable, fraud-resistant access to agricultural financing options.

FAQ: North Carolina Agriculture Workforce Solutions

Farmonaut Subscriptions: Get Started

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Conclusion: The Path Ahead for North Carolina Agriculture Workforce Solutions

North Carolina’s agriculture workforce percentage isn’t a single number — it’s 16% for direct farm employment (2023, NC State/NASS) or 19%, roughly 965,000 jobs, once the full agribusiness chain is counted (2024–2025, NC Commerce/NC State). Both sit well above the 1.57% US national average (2023), even though states like Wyoming (9.5%) and North Dakota (8.2%) lead on a strict farm-employment basis. Separately, the horticulture sector’s 20% average vacancy rate (2021–2024, AmericanHort) is the more urgent workforce problem for that specific segment, driving the 65% of nurseries that have raised wages to compete for staff.

The durable method here matters more than any single figure: check the NC Commerce Department’s Agricultural Workforce page for the state’s current percentage, pull USDA NASS’s quarterly Farm Labor Survey for current wage rates, and use the definitional split above — direct employment versus full agribusiness — to know which number you’re actually being asked for. Numbers will move; the framework for finding the right one won’t.

Whether you’re a farmer, agricultural employer, technician, policymaker, or educator, there’s a role to play in keeping North Carolina’s agricultural sector resilient.

Maximize your workforce, amplify your success.