Automation in Agriculture: Occupational Trends, Worker Outcomes, and Labor Market Implications

This paper investigates how automation technologies are reshaping agricultural labor, focusing on both labor market dynamics and changes in work organization. Drawing on a systematic literature review of 33 peer-reviewed studies and following the PRISMA protocol, the analysis adopts an inductive approach to extract empirical patterns. Findings reveal a dual transformation: while automation reduces the demand for low-skilled, repetitive labor, it simultaneously generates new opportunities for workers with technical and cognitive skills. The study identifies key risks—displacement, polarization, and digital exclusion for vulnerable groups—alongside potential benefits such as professional upskilling and improved working conditions. By introducing a dual-level thematic framework, Occupational and Worker level, the paper provides a granular understanding of labor impacts across macro and micro dimensions. It offers a critical and interdisciplinary contribution to ongoing debates on the social consequences of technological change, with implications for policy, workforce development, and equitable innovation in the agricultural sector.