LABOUR PRODUCTIVITY IN DAIRY COOPERATIVES AND ITS VARIABILITY IN 2017-2021

Abstract

The aim of the study was to assess the partial productivity of dairy cooperatives in Poland in terms of labour productivity in 2017-2020. Cooperatives are important players in the dairy sector, both in Poland and in the European Union. Trends observed in the environment are creating increasing pressure to improve the efficiency of these entities. The research sample consisted of 78 cooperatives representing, in terms of employment and revenue, around 90% of the domestic cooperative dairy sector. The financial data of the cooperatives used in the study came from the STATISTA database. Descriptive statistics methods, the average annual growth rate (CAGR) and cluster analysis were applied in the analysis. The study showed significant differences among cooperatives in terms of employment size, revenue and economic labour productivity. Upward trends in these three variables were also identified for 2017-2021, with the caveat that the COVID-19 pandemic period was characterised by employment, revenue as well as labour productivity dynamics falling below zero. On the basis of the research conducted using cluster analysis, the original classification of cooperatives was proposed, taking into account labour productivity and the size of the cooperative.