Labor and Employment in Brazilian Northeastern Agriculture: a look at the 2004-2014 period

Abstract: The labor market in the Brazilian Northeastern agriculture is characterized by many forms of occupation, ranging from the salaried work to the various forms of family work. In a heterogeneous and diverse agriculture, there is a complex labor market, with changes in recent times. Therefore, it is necessary to keep a watchful eye on important structural features. As a result, this paper aims to analyze the main aspects related to work and employment relations in the Brazilian Northeastern agriculture in the 2004-2014 period. The sources of information are special tabulations from the National Survey by Household Sample (PNAD), conducted by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE). The results pointed to a continuing decline in Northeastern PEA (Economically Active Population) occupied in agriculture, partially offset by the growth of Northeastern rural residents occupied in non-agricultural activities, in addition to the people occupied in self-consumption production. Women and young people were the ones who mostly left the agricultural activities, reinforcing the “ageing” process of the occupied PEA. The crops with the largest reduction in the occupied in agricultural PEA were: cassava, rice, coffee, banana, sugarcane, cocoa, vegetables and fruits. On the other hand, the number of occupied people increased in: corn and grape cultivation, services for agriculture, swine and poultry farming and integrated agricultural and livestock production systems. An increase in schooling of the occupied PEA was registered, though it is still below the national average.

摘要：巴西东北部农业劳动力市场呈现多元用工形态，涵盖雇佣劳动与各类家庭用工模式。在异构多元的农业业态中，劳动力市场结构复杂且近年出现诸多变化，因此亟需密切关注其关键结构性特征。本研究旨在剖析2004-2014年间巴西东北部农业领域与劳动及雇佣关系相关的核心议题。本研究的数据来源为巴西地理与统计研究所（Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, IBGE）开展的全国住户抽样调查（National Survey by Household Sample, PNAD）的专项制表数据。研究结果显示，东北部农业领域的经济活动人口（Economically Active Population，PEA）持续减少，而从事非农业活动的东北部农村就业人口以及自给性生产从业者的增长，在一定程度上抵消了这一下降趋势。其中，女性与青年群体是脱离农业活动的主力，进一步加剧了就业经济活动人口的“老龄化”进程。农业就业经济活动人口缩减幅度最大的作物品类包括：木薯、水稻、咖啡、香蕉、甘蔗、可可、蔬菜与水果。与之相对，玉米与葡萄种植、农业服务业、畜禽养殖以及农牧一体化生产系统的就业人数有所增长。此外，东北部农业就业经济活动人口的受教育水平有所提升，但仍低于全国平均水平。