Labor Market Effects of Automation-Induced Job Loss in Low-Income Settings: Evidence from Burundi

In Burundi, automation at a Partner firm’s coffee dry-mill in Gitega City is expected to displace between 2,500 and 3,000 low-skilled seasonal female workers in mid-2026. From preliminary discussions with line managers, the research team knows that many of these workers rely on this seasonal job for a non-trivial share of their household income and, for younger workers, for university costs. Researchers will document how much workers depend on the dry-mill income, outside income options available to them, to what extent they otherwise depend on their informal networks for insurance against shocks, and how anticipated displacement may shape education, fertility, and migration choices. Researchers will combine this with a no-cost web-based survey with employers to understand which labor market and/or income support pathways are most promising to support workers experiencing automation-induced job loss. The fieldwork will generate the evidence required to decide which intervention sets should be taken forward for a randomized evaluation.