Digitalisation and sustainable employment as a factor of agricultural development

Ural State University of Economics, Ekaterinburg, Russia

^* Corresponding author: tonkihnv@usue.ru

Abstract

In recent years, the attention of researchers has focused on sustainable development issues in labour and employment. Of particular concern are the negative trends of unsustainable employment in the agricultural sector. The study aims to conduct a comparative assessment of the sustainability of digital and non-digital forms of employment in agriculture. The empirical basis was a nationwide sociological survey of citizens (N = 3,890) conducted in June – September 2023. The results revealed a difference in employment conditions between two segments of agricultural workers: ‘digital’ and ‘non-digital’. Those working in the digital segment are more likely to be satisfied with their working conditions, have higher labour income and more flexible working hours. The results obtained allow us to formulate the hypothesis that digital employment is more sustainable than non-digital employment. It is concluded that it is viable to implement a set of measures aimed at increasing the sustainability and attractiveness of work in agriculture through the transformation of working conditions, the system of professional training, attraction and retention of personnel. Digital workers can act as drivers of current and future transformations in agricultural industry, so it is essential to promote a systematic increase in the sustainability of their employment.