This comparative study examines the evolving nature of pastoral livelihoods and labour organisation in Tanzania, focusing on the divergent pathways of sedentarisation and market-oriented pastoralism. Drawing on primary data from contrasting agro-pastoral and pastoral communities, the analysis investigates how labour allocation, household decision-making, and cooperative structures adapt to pressures of climate variability, land tenure changes, and market integration. The findings reveal a spectrum of strategies, from labour-intensive diversification to specialised livestock enterprises, each presenting distinct trade-offs for economic resilience and social cohesion. The study concludes that policy interventions must account for this heterogeneity to effectively support sustainable pastoral economies in eastern Africa.