Labor Secretary Chavez-DeRemer Highlights Workforce Needs During Mississippi Visit
Jackson, Mississippi – U.S. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer completed a stop in Mississippi on Saturday, February 7, 2026, as part of her “America at Work” listening tour. The tour aims to gather insights into the challenges and opportunities facing the American workforce across all 50 states.
Chavez-DeRemer held a roundtable discussion at the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation headquarters in Jackson. Participants included officials from the MFBF, the Mississippi Sweet Potato Council, Catfish Farmers of America, and representatives from various sectors of the state’s agriculture industry. Following the roundtable, she participated in an exclusive interview with SuperTalk Mississippi News.
“We wanted to talk about what’s happening right here on the ground in Mississippi,” Chavez-DeRemer said. “The president was clear with the secretaries that we cannot understand what’s happening on the ground if we don’t get out in America.”
Mississippi represents the 46th state visited by Chavez-DeRemer since the tour began last April, shortly after her confirmation by the U.S. Senate. The visit focused on the Department of Labor’s efforts to streamline processes for farmers, ranchers, and other employers in Mississippi to connect with reliable workers.
Chavez-DeRemer also discussed collaborative efforts between the Department of Labor, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. These efforts are geared towards expanding youth development initiatives, apprenticeship programs, and visa programs designed to address seasonal labor shortages in the agricultural sector.
“How do we entice young people to have pride in growing America’s food? That’s what we do,” Chavez-DeRemer stated. “And we talk about that across all industries with apprenticeship programs for the trades, and manufacturing.”
The Labor Secretary highlighted the administration’s commitment to workforce development beyond traditional four-year degrees. “We’ve created more than 300,000 apprenticeships since I took office under Trump’s Labor Department. When you think about that, men and women deserve opportunities and flexibility. Not everyone is going to pursue a four-year degree. We want to make sure they have the skills, and that we’re upskilling and reskilling.”
Chavez-DeRemer described the reception from those in attendance as “great” and “heartfelt.” The roundtable included representation from all major sectors of Mississippi agriculture, including rice and timber. Agriculture remains the state’s largest industry, generating approximately $9 billion annually and employing roughly 11% of the Mississippi workforce.
According to Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson, agriculture is the number one industry in the state, with a farm gate value exceeding $8.7 billion in 2023. He emphasized the importance of focusing workforce development efforts on the agricultural workforce, citing the potential of programs like 4-H and FFA.
Lieutenant Governor Delbert Hosemann has also addressed the challenges facing Mississippi’s agricultural sector, noting that it accounts for 18.6% of the state’s economy and generates over $7 billion annually. Hosemann highlighted the financial difficulties farmers are facing due to high inflation, rising input costs, and international competition, estimating statewide losses of $550 million with a broader economic impact of $3.5 billion in lost spending.
The nationwide worker shortage is impacting Mississippi, underscoring the need for innovative solutions to address labor challenges across all industries.
