Adaptasi Rumah Tangga Profesi Tukang Bangunan ( Studi Etnografi di Desa Paya Bakung Kecamatan Hamparan Perak)

Abstract

This study is entitled "Adaptation of Households of the Construction Worker Profession: An Ethnographic Study in Paya Bakung Village, Hamparan Perak District" which aims to understand the adaptation strategies of construction work households in dealing with job uncertainty, income and economic risk. The construction work profession as part of the informal sector is often faced with fluctuating income, lack of social security, and limited access to economic resources. This requires households to develop adaptation patterns so that the family's basic needs are still met. This study uses an ethnographic method with a qualitative approach. Data were collected through participant observation, in-depth interviews, and documentation of construction work households in Paya Bakung Village. Informants were selected purposively to obtain a comprehensive picture of their experiences in managing survival strategies amid economic uncertainty.The results of the study show that the households of construction workers in Paya Bakung Village have various forms of adaptation. First, they are able to survive in difficult economic conditions by saving expenses, prioritizing needs, and utilizing social networks as a form of economic support. Second, households can still meet basic needs such as food, education, and electricity even though income is uncertain. Third, resilience to economic risk is built through strategies for finding alternative jobs, doing odd jobs, and relying on the solidarity of the extended family. Analysis based on James C. Scott's adaptation theory shows that the strategies used by construction worker households are in line with the concept of subsistence ethics and survival mechanisms. Subsistence ethics are reflected in efforts to maintain survival by prioritizing basic needs, while survival mechanisms are seen from their flexibility in finding various sources of additional income.The discussion of this study emphasizes that the adaptation of construction workers' households is not only economic but also socio-cultural. Their success in surviving is greatly influenced by social ties, mutual cooperation values, and the ability to utilize local resources. These findings are expected to be input for the government and social institutions to design economic empowerment programs that are more responsive to the needs of informal sector households.