How agri-food value chain employment and compensation evolve with structural transformation

The traditional structural transformation narrative emphasizes inter-sectoral labor reallocation out of agriculture, ignoring whether workers exit agri-food value chains or merely migrate within them, from primary agricultural production to downstream food industries. We introduce a method to decomp...

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Main Authors: Yi, Jing, Jiang, Shiyun, Tran, Dianna, Gómez, Miguel I., Canning, Patrick, Bloem, Jeffrey R., Barrett, Christopher B.
Format: Artículo preliminar
Language:Inglés
Published: International Food Policy Research Institute 2024
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/168646
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author Yi, Jing
Jiang, Shiyun
Tran, Dianna
Gómez, Miguel I.
Canning, Patrick
Bloem, Jeffrey R.
Barrett, Christopher B.
author_browse Barrett, Christopher B.
Bloem, Jeffrey R.
Canning, Patrick
Gómez, Miguel I.
Jiang, Shiyun
Tran, Dianna
Yi, Jing
author_facet Yi, Jing
Jiang, Shiyun
Tran, Dianna
Gómez, Miguel I.
Canning, Patrick
Bloem, Jeffrey R.
Barrett, Christopher B.
author_sort Yi, Jing
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description The traditional structural transformation narrative emphasizes inter-sectoral labor reallocation out of agriculture, ignoring whether workers exit agri-food value chains or merely migrate within them, from primary agricultural production to downstream food industries. We introduce a method to decompose multiregional input-output table data into industry-and-country-specific annual labor value added estimates by final consumer market segment – domestic food at home, domestic food away from home, or exports – and match with industry-specific employment data to estimate average worker compensation. Using data covering most of the global economy, 1993-2021, we report ten stylized facts that sharpen the traditional narrative about labor reallocation amid structural transformation. As incomes grow, labor exits primary production for downstream agri-food value chain segments that maintain a steady economywide employment share while offering jobs that pay better than farm work. Women disproportionately move from primary production to downstream, consumer-facing retail and food service, while men migrate to better-paying midstream jobs, increasing gender pay inequality within the value chain. Employment shifts are strongly associated with changes in national per capita income, but not with agricultural total factor productivity growth.
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spelling CGSpace1686462025-11-06T06:49:13Z How agri-food value chain employment and compensation evolve with structural transformation Yi, Jing Jiang, Shiyun Tran, Dianna Gómez, Miguel I. Canning, Patrick Bloem, Jeffrey R. Barrett, Christopher B. food systems agricultural development gender gap input output analysis labour agricultural value chains employment structural adjustment The traditional structural transformation narrative emphasizes inter-sectoral labor reallocation out of agriculture, ignoring whether workers exit agri-food value chains or merely migrate within them, from primary agricultural production to downstream food industries. We introduce a method to decompose multiregional input-output table data into industry-and-country-specific annual labor value added estimates by final consumer market segment – domestic food at home, domestic food away from home, or exports – and match with industry-specific employment data to estimate average worker compensation. Using data covering most of the global economy, 1993-2021, we report ten stylized facts that sharpen the traditional narrative about labor reallocation amid structural transformation. As incomes grow, labor exits primary production for downstream agri-food value chain segments that maintain a steady economywide employment share while offering jobs that pay better than farm work. Women disproportionately move from primary production to downstream, consumer-facing retail and food service, while men migrate to better-paying midstream jobs, increasing gender pay inequality within the value chain. Employment shifts are strongly associated with changes in national per capita income, but not with agricultural total factor productivity growth. 2024-12-31 2025-01-07T16:35:46Z 2025-01-07T16:35:46Z Working Paper https://hdl.handle.net/10568/168646 en https://doi.org/10.1038/s43016-025-01225-9 https://doi.org/10.2499/p15738coll2.137050 https://doi.org/10.2499/p15738coll2.136944 https://doi.org/10.1257/jel.20201539 Open Access application/pdf International Food Policy Research Institute Yi, Jing; Jiang, Shiyun; Tran, Dianna; Gómez, Miguel I.; Canning, Patrick; Bloem, Jeffrey R.; and Barrett, Christopher B. 2024. How agri-food value chain employment and compensation evolve with structural transformation. IFPRI Discussion Paper 2311. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/168646
spellingShingle food systems
agricultural development
gender gap
input output analysis
labour
agricultural value chains
employment
structural adjustment
Yi, Jing
Jiang, Shiyun
Tran, Dianna
Gómez, Miguel I.
Canning, Patrick
Bloem, Jeffrey R.
Barrett, Christopher B.
How agri-food value chain employment and compensation evolve with structural transformation
title How agri-food value chain employment and compensation evolve with structural transformation
title_full How agri-food value chain employment and compensation evolve with structural transformation
title_fullStr How agri-food value chain employment and compensation evolve with structural transformation
title_full_unstemmed How agri-food value chain employment and compensation evolve with structural transformation
title_short How agri-food value chain employment and compensation evolve with structural transformation
title_sort how agri food value chain employment and compensation evolve with structural transformation
topic food systems
agricultural development
gender gap
input output analysis
labour
agricultural value chains
employment
structural adjustment
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/168646
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