Table of Contents
What led to the increase of migrant workers?
Among the economic conditions that heighten the demand for migrant workers are rapid increases in agricultural production within a given region and a significant loss in the number of farm labourers—a condition often caused by higher wages outside the agricultural sector.
Why did people migrate in the 1930s?
Migration Out of the Plains during the Depression. During the Dust Bowl years, the weather destroyed nearly all the crops farmers tried to grow on the Great Plains. Many once-proud farmers packed up their families and moved to California hoping to find work as day laborers on huge farms.
Where did migrant workers go for work in the 1930s?
Many migrants set up camp along the irrigation ditches of the farms they were working, which led to overcrowding and poor sanitary conditions. They lived in tents and out of the backs of cars and trucks. The working hours were long, and many children worked in the fields with their parents.
Why are there migrant workers?
These workers often travel to America to look for occupational opportunities and to provide economic stability for their families (Duncan 2015). These workers risk their lives to cross the border – facing extreme heat and the risk of being caught by border control to find jobs in the United States.
Why was there a need for migrant workers during the 1930’s?
The Great Depression and the Dust Bowl (a period of drought that destroyed millions of acres of farmland) forced white farmers to sell their farms and become migrant workers who traveled from farm to farm to pick fruit and other crops at starvation wages.
How did the migrant Labour system affect?
The migrant labour system resulted in fatherless homes as fathers were in the city working in low-paying jobs and only returning home once a year. In many cases these young women are single mothers who receive no help from their baby’s father. These women are forced to take multiple low-paying jobs just to stay afloat.