Development Programs and its Consequences on the Occupational Structure of Rural Iran (1956 to 2006)

Abstract

Iran has experienced significant changes in the distribution of employed population of rural<br />areas in major professional categories in the years 1956 to 2006. Accordingly, it is important to study<br />the changes in occupational structure, factors influencing these changes, and their implications. The<br />methodology of this study is documentary and secondary analysis. Moreover, in order to explain why<br />the changes were made, the development plans before and after the Islamic Revolution were<br />examined. Findings indicate that the number of workers in agricultural sector during the years 1956,<br />1966, 1976, 1986, 1996 and 2006 was 74.3, 61.7, 58.9, 57.7, 49.75, and 43.94 percent, respectively.<br />According to the statistics, there has been a gradual reduction of the number of workers in the<br />agricultural sector. Results also show that the average age of workers in the agricultural sector<br />during the years 1966, 1976, 1986, 1996 and 2006 was 34.3, 37.6, 40.4, 40.5, and 40 years,<br />respectively. The results of documentary studies suggests that oil price upward spiraling followed by<br />the reduction of government's dependence on agriculture, implementation of the Land Reform Plan<br />regardless of the social and cultural structure of the rural population on one hand, and, on the other<br />hand, the tendency of the governments before and after the Revolution towards mechanized<br />agriculture without the necessary scientific and practical background have been major factors in the<br />irrational reduction of workers in the agricultural sector. Among the most important social and<br />economic consequences of this situation are the aging of workforce employed in agriculture, the<br />decline of agricultural development, the growth of false occupations, and the development of oil<br />economy.