Reports & Analysis
2026 Survey of Seasonal Employers
The Challenge
Seasonal businesses across the country rely on H-2B visa workers to get through their peak season — landscaping, golf courses, hospitality, and outdoor amusement among them. A new survey of seasonal employers, conducted in partnership with the Seasonal Employment Alliance, finds that H-2B processing delays are hitting these businesses hard heading into the 2026 season.
What the Evidence Shows
Across more than 30 states and nine industries, delays in the H-2B program are translating directly into lost revenue, lost contracts, and lost jobs.
$30.7M
Share of surveyed businesses expecting their H-2B workers to arrive one month late or more, with 29% expecting delays of two months or longer. Respondents rated the severity of the impact 4.31 out of 5 on average.
40%
Share of affected businesses that don't expect to be profitable this season. More than one in four (27%) anticipate having to permanently reduce the size of their operations.
12,500+
H-2B workers requested by respondent businesses for the 2026 season, out of more than 32,400 total workers employed during peak season. 55% of businesses reporting losses say those losses exceed $100,000.
The Real Question
Not whether H-2B workers are needed — respondents' own hiring numbers make that clear — but whether the current lottery-based allocation and processing system is creating avoidable uncertainty that's now translating into real economic damage, including layoffs of American workers.
Bottom Line
The survey's authors argue H-2B workers complement rather than displace American labor, and that delays are now costing both the seasonal businesses that rely on the program and the American workers alongside them. Their recommendations include a certified seasonal employer designation, exempting returning workers from the annual cap, faster processing, restored interview waivers, and multi-year visa certainty for qualified employers.
Source: Unleash Prosperity and the Seasonal Employment Alliance, "2026 Survey of Seasonal Employers," May 2026. Based on responses from 239 seasonal employers across more than 30 states.