Agriculture as a conditional employment buffer: evidence of multidimensional labor vulnerability in Indonesia

Agriculture is often viewed as a labor market buffer in developing economies because it absorbs workers during periods of economic disruption. However, its role in protecting workers from broader labor vulnerability remains unclear. Using data from the 2022 Indonesian National Labor Force Survey (SAKERNAS), this study examines whether agricultural employment is associated with job loss, reductions in working hours, and income vulnerability. Logit and Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) models are estimated while controlling for individual, household, and regional characteristics. The results show that agricultural workers are significantly less likely to experience job loss, reduced working hours, and income vulnerability than non-agricultural workers. However, they continue to earn substantially lower incomes, indicating that employment stability does not necessarily imply economic security. Gender-disaggregated analyses further reveal stronger income vulnerability among female agricultural workers. These findings suggest that agriculture functions as a conditional employment buffer, reducing labor market disruptions while remaining associated with low earnings and persistent structural inequalities.