Aging, male dominance, and decline of agricultural workers in the Central‐West Brazilian labor market

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the dynamics of the economically active population (EAP) employed in agricultural activities in the Central‐West region in Brazil, between 2004 and 2015. Based on microdata from the National Household Sample Survey, we analyzed the agricultural EAP according to occupation, gender, age, schooling, agricultural activities, and income. The results show a decline in the agricultural workers, accompanied by greater schooling and formalization of labor relations, by male dominance and also by the aging of agricultural workers in Central‐West Brazil. The agricultural EAP was concentrated in the 40–59 age group, with noticeable reduction in child labor and in the share of young adults. Although the female EAP in agriculture had more formal education than male workers, it showed a greater trend of decline over the period, while employers and formally registered employees had notably more years of schooling than those in other job categories. These results indicate important aspects about of those working in agriculture, which can be useful for rural development and food security policy purposes.