Effects of Off-Farm Employment on the Eco-Efficiency of Cultivated Land Use: Evidence from the North China Plain

The effective allocation of labor and cultivated land resources to ensure food security is a global concern. Understanding the relationship between rural labor off-farm employment and the eco-efficiency of cultivated land use (ECLU) is critical, yet current research in this area remains insufficient. This study explores the dynamics between off-farm employment and ECLU using the North China Plain as a case study, analyzing panel data from 2001 to 2020 through spatial econometric models. The findings reveal significant temporal expansion and spatial differentiation in off-farm employment, with growth rates gradually slowing and spatial disparities diminishing. The average ECLU initially declined from 2001 to 2003, followed by fluctuating increases, with a notable acceleration in growth after 2017. A “U-shaped” relationship between off-farm employment and ECLU was identified, with a turning point at an off-farm employment ratio of 40.73%, occurring around 2003–2004 based on regional averages. Before this threshold, off-farm employment negatively impacted ECLU, while beyond this point, the impact became positive. The study also observed significant spatial spillover effects of off-farm employment on ECLU in the North China Plain. These findings underscore the complex interplay between rural labor migration and agricultural productivity. To maximize the benefits of off-farm employment, policies should encourage the reinvestment of income into sustainable agricultural practices. Furthermore, the significant spatial spillover effects call for enhanced regional coordination and tailored policy interventions to optimize labor allocation and improve ECLU.