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The scale of the disruption in the labour market in 1974 is clearly visible in Figure
2.17 (above), which shows the number of people employed by broad sector. The
coup and invasion precipitated a most dramatic 60% drop in the agricultural labour
force, from which it never recovered. This amounted to a rapid, statistical at least,
modernisation of the economy: agriculture and the primary sector falling from
being the largest employers to the smallest, almost immediately after the Turkish
military intervention. The 1977 Agricultural Census found that 55% of farmers had
off-farm employment and for 94% of them, their off-farm occupation was the one
which demanded most of their time. Only 25% of farmers had no off-farm
employment at ali. As a result of the dislocation of population, 35% of pre 1974
farmers were no longer engaged in any farm employment. 51
It is worth considering the changes in the structure of employment further because it
had dramatic social and cultural, as well as economie implications (for changing
supply conditions and the structure of demand). The share of employment in
agriculture had fallen to well below 20% by 1985. Employment in the primary
sector generally, fell precipitously in 1974 and had practically bottomed out by
1975 (Figure 2.17). The war accelerated the role of part-time farming. Of
necessity,
it undermined any cultural constraints on female wage labour,
particularly affecting formerly rural households, whose women had not generally
sought employment outside the home and farm. The role of women in the labour
market seemed to rise sharply after 1974 52 (more on which later).
51 Figures quoted by Pearce R. (July) 1981. "Part-Time Farming in Cyprus: A Pilot Study".
University of Reading, Dept. of Agricultural Economics & Management, Development Study No.
21.
52 "As in other parts of Europe the activity rate of women has been rising in recent years. While it is
not possible to make comparisons of participation rates defined in exactly analogous ways at two
points in time, it is worth noting that the number of employed women in Cyprus rose by 31 % over
theperiod 1976-1980, compared with only 14% formen." House, W.J. 1982. Population,
Emplovment Planning and Labour Forcé Mobilitv in Cyprus. (Terminal Reporf). Nicosia: Planning
Bureau & Dept. of Statistics and Research, p.22.
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