diff --git a/src/aca_model/agent/labor_market.py b/src/aca_model/agent/labor_market.py
index 1421e9e..5665d92 100644
--- a/src/aca_model/agent/labor_market.py
+++ b/src/aca_model/agent/labor_market.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 """
 
 import jax.numpy as jnp
+import numpy as np
 from lcm import categorical
 from lcm.typing import (
     ContinuousState,
@@ -39,12 +40,16 @@ class SpousalIncome:
     married_has_inc: ScalarInt
 
 
-HOURS_VALUES = jnp.array([0.0, 1000.0, 1500.0, 2000.0, 2500.0])
+# Host array, not a module-level JAX array: a device array here would
+# reserve the GPU memory pool at import time in every process that imports
+# the model. It is converted to a device array at each indexing site, where
+# the value folds into the surrounding compiled function.
+HOURS_VALUES = np.array([0.0, 1000.0, 1500.0, 2000.0, 2500.0])
 
 
 def working_hours_value(labor_supply: DiscreteAction) -> FloatND:
     """Map labor supply choice to annual hours worked."""
-    return HOURS_VALUES[labor_supply]
+    return jnp.asarray(HOURS_VALUES)[labor_supply]
 
 
 def wage(
@@ -74,7 +79,7 @@ def income(
 
     income = wage * hours^(1 + exp) * int^(-exp)
     """
-    hours = HOURS_VALUES[labor_supply]
+    hours = jnp.asarray(HOURS_VALUES)[labor_supply]
     return jnp.where(
         hours > 0.0,
         wage
diff --git a/tests/test_labor_market.py b/tests/test_labor_market.py
index 18dcaa2..f26992a 100644
--- a/tests/test_labor_market.py
+++ b/tests/test_labor_market.py
@@ -2,11 +2,35 @@
 
 import jax.numpy as jnp
 import numpy as np
+import pytest
 
 from aca_model.agent import labor_market
 from aca_model.agent.labor_market import LaborSupply
 
 
+def test_hours_values_is_host_array_so_import_allocates_no_device_memory() -> None:
+    """`HOURS_VALUES` is a host (NumPy) array, not a device-pinned JAX array.
+
+    A module-level JAX array materializes on the default device the moment the
+    module is imported, reserving the GPU memory pool in every process that
+    imports the model — including the estimation orchestrator, which only
+    launches GPU worker ranks and must leave the devices free for them.
+    """
+    assert isinstance(labor_market.HOURS_VALUES, np.ndarray)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    ("choice", "expected_hours"),
+    [(0, 0.0), (1, 1000.0), (2, 1500.0), (3, 2000.0), (4, 2500.0)],
+)
+def test_working_hours_value_maps_choice_to_annual_hours(
+    choice: int, expected_hours: float
+) -> None:
+    """Each labor-supply choice maps to its annual hours worked."""
+    result = labor_market.working_hours_value(jnp.asarray(choice, dtype=jnp.int32))
+    np.testing.assert_allclose(float(result), expected_hours)
+
+
 def test_wage_combines_age_health_profile_with_residual() -> None:
     """`wage = exp(log_ft_wage_mean[period, good_health] + log_ft_wage_std * res)`."""
     log_ft_wage_mean = jnp.array([[1.0, 2.0], [3.0, 4.0]])  # [period, good_health]