A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF SUGARCANE MECHANIZATION ON THE EMPLOYMENT IN THE BRAZILIAN REGIONS

Abstract

The objective of this article is to compare the relation of sugarcane mechanization with employment in Brazilian regions. A log-log method was used to measure the influence of modernization on the evolution of rural jobs and on formal instruction requirements for sugarcane cutting, loading and transportation (CLT) operations. The results indicate that the mechanization process intensified the unemployment in the sugar cane crop, occurring in a different way in each Brazilian region according to their particularities. These differences can be explained by the agricultural capability, financing capacity and the competitiveness of each region’s labor force. In addition, the introduction of these new technologies did not represent a proportional or even higher contracting of skilled labor, but a timid increase in the number of employees with up to high school. This is due to the need of workers to operate the CLT machinery able to perform simple tasks. It is important to think about public policies that can generate diversification of local economies for the absorption of the unemployed labor force, especially in the Northeast region.