diff --git a/packages/jest-haste-map/src/index.ts b/packages/jest-haste-map/src/index.ts
index 4254eb2c52ad..a203bea0a845 100644
--- a/packages/jest-haste-map/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/jest-haste-map/src/index.ts
@@ -747,6 +747,8 @@ export default class HasteMap extends EventEmitter {
         // @ts-expect-error: assignment of a worker with custom properties.
         this._worker = new Worker(require.resolve('./worker'), {
           exposedMethods: ['getSha1', 'worker'],
+          // @ts-expect-error: option does not exist on the node 12 types
+          forkOptions: {serialization: 'json'},
           maxRetries: 3,
           numWorkers: this._options.maxWorkers,
         }) as WorkerInterface;
diff --git a/packages/jest-reporters/src/CoverageReporter.ts b/packages/jest-reporters/src/CoverageReporter.ts
index dc4d87daa6c1..dd1a52b99e98 100644
--- a/packages/jest-reporters/src/CoverageReporter.ts
+++ b/packages/jest-reporters/src/CoverageReporter.ts
@@ -144,6 +144,8 @@ export default class CoverageReporter extends BaseReporter {
     } else {
       worker = new Worker(require.resolve('./CoverageWorker'), {
         exposedMethods: ['worker'],
+        // @ts-expect-error: option does not exist on the node 12 types
+        forkOptions: {serialization: 'json'},
         maxRetries: 2,
         numWorkers: this._globalConfig.maxWorkers,
       });