Off-farm labour decision of Canadian farm operators: Urbanization effects and rural labour market linkages

Journal of Rural Studies

Volume 25, Issue 1, January 2009, Pages 12-24

(Article)

Alasia, A.^a , 

Weersink, A.^b , 

Bollman, R.D.^a , 

Cranfield, J.^b 

 

^a  Agriculture Division, Statistics Canada, 170 Tunney's Pasture Driveway, Ottawa, Ont. K1A 0T6, Canada
^b  Department of Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of Guelph, Gordon Street, Guelph, Ont. N1G 2W1, Canada 

View references (28)

Abstract

Understanding the factors affecting off-farm labour decisions of census-farm operators has significant implications for rural development and farm income support policy. We examine the off-farm labour decisions of Canadian farm operators using micro-level data from the 2001 Census of Agriculture combined with community level data from the 2001 Census of Population. While confirming some of the findings of previous research with respect to the effects of human capital and farm characteristics on off-farm work participation, this study shows the differential impact of those variables for operators of smaller and larger holdings. Family, community and regional characteristics appear more relevant in determining the joint decision to work off-farm and operate a smaller holding, compared to the decision to work off-farm and operate a larger farm. Results suggest that, once other factors are accounted for, proximity to urban centres does not have a positive effect on the joint decisions to participate in off-farm work and to operate a holding. This joint decision, in fact, is more related to the dynamics of the local labour market. A major implication of these findings is that while urban centers might represent an engine of growth for overall rural income through employment opportunities for the non-farm workforce, the non-farm income of farm operators is more likely to be affected by policy initiatives that address directly the dynamics of labour markets in the community where the operator lives. © 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Author keywords

Labour markets; Off-farm labour; Rural development

Indexed keywords

GEOBASE Subject Index: agricultural labor; agricultural land; human capital; labor market; off-farm employment; research work; rural development; rural economy; urbanization

Regional Index: Canada; North America

ISSN: 07430167 CODEN: JRSTFSource Type: Journal Original language: English

DOI: 10.1016/j.jrurstud.2008.04.002Document Type: Article

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  Weersink, A.; Department of Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of Guelph, Gordon Street, Guelph, Ont. N1G 2W1, Canada; email:aweersin@uoguelph.ca
© Copyright 2008 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.