Agricultural employment in Czechia: The role of family farms and geographical conditions

Abstract

In developed countries, agriculture employs a very small percentage of the population. Most agricultural jobs are located in rural areas. This article’s goal is to examine agriculture’s role as an employer in rural areas in Czechia with a focus on the differences between family and non-family farms. Mainly qualitative data were used. The analysis is based on 42 semi-structured interviews with farmers from three model areas. The results of the research showed that agriculture has a minor role in creating a large number of jobs in rural areas. Nevertheless, for rural areas in Czechia, agriculture is important for providing non-financial benefits for the inhabitants, for example, by creating jobs close to the place of living or providing less stressful jobs in an outdoor environment. Also, according to the results, family farms, when compared to non-family farms, rarely create jobs for employees outside the farming family.