diff --git a/src/dbt_jobs_as_code/exporter/export.py b/src/dbt_jobs_as_code/exporter/export.py
index 50d5887..e26aee2 100644
--- a/src/dbt_jobs_as_code/exporter/export.py
+++ b/src/dbt_jobs_as_code/exporter/export.py
@@ -10,7 +10,8 @@ def export_jobs_yml(jobs: list[JobDefinition], include_linked_id: bool = False):
 
     export_yml = {"jobs": {}}
     for id, cloud_job in enumerate(jobs):
-        export_yml["jobs"][f"import_{id + 1}"] = cloud_job.to_load_format(include_linked_id)
+        yaml_key = cloud_job.identifier if cloud_job.identifier else f"import_{id + 1}"
+        export_yml["jobs"][yaml_key] = cloud_job.to_load_format(include_linked_id)
 
     print(
         "# yaml-language-server: $schema=https://raw.githubusercontent.com/dbt-labs/dbt-jobs-as-code/main/src/dbt_jobs_as_code/schemas/load_job_schema.json"
diff --git a/src/dbt_jobs_as_code/loader/load.py b/src/dbt_jobs_as_code/loader/load.py
index f7119eb..7da3ea3 100644
--- a/src/dbt_jobs_as_code/loader/load.py
+++ b/src/dbt_jobs_as_code/loader/load.py
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ def load_job_configuration(config_files: List[str], vars_file: Optional[List[str
     else:
         config = _load_yaml_no_template(config_files)
 
-    if not config["jobs"]:
+    if config.get("jobs", {}) == {}:
         return Config(jobs={})
 
     date_config = [job.get("schedule", {}).get("date", None) for job in config["jobs"].values()]
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ def _load_yaml_no_template(config_files: List[str]) -> dict:
             config = yaml.safe_load(config_string)
             if config:
                 # Merge the jobs from each file into combined_config
-                if "jobs" in config:
+                if config.get("jobs", {}) != {}:
                     if "jobs" not in combined_config:
                         combined_config["jobs"] = {}
                     combined_config["jobs"].update(config["jobs"])
diff --git a/tests/exporter/test_export.py b/tests/exporter/test_export.py
index 818fdfc..bfaf9ad 100644
--- a/tests/exporter/test_export.py
+++ b/tests/exporter/test_export.py
@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
 import json
 
+import pytest
+from jsonschema import validate
+from ruamel.yaml import YAML
+
 from dbt_jobs_as_code.exporter.export import export_jobs_yml
 from dbt_jobs_as_code.schemas.common_types import (
     Date,
@@ -10,8 +14,22 @@
     Triggers,
 )
 from dbt_jobs_as_code.schemas.job import JobDefinition
-from jsonschema import validate
-from ruamel.yaml import YAML
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def base_job_definition():
+    return JobDefinition(
+        account_id=1,
+        project_id=1,
+        environment_id=1,
+        name="Test Job",
+        settings={},
+        run_generate_sources=False,
+        execute_steps=[],
+        generate_docs=False,
+        schedule={"cron": "0 14 * * 0,1,2,3,4,5,6"},
+        triggers={},
+    )
 
 
 def test_export_jobs_yml(capsys):
@@ -99,3 +117,57 @@ def test_export_jobs_yml(capsys):
     yaml = YAML(typ="safe")
     yaml_data = yaml.load(captured.out.strip())
     validate(instance=yaml_data, schema=json.loads(schema))
+
+
+def test_export_jobs_yml_with_identifier(base_job_definition, capsys):
+    # Create a job with identifier
+    job_with_identifier = base_job_definition.model_copy()
+    job_with_identifier.identifier = "existing_identifier"
+
+    # Create a job without identifier
+    job_without_identifier = base_job_definition.model_copy()
+
+    jobs = [job_with_identifier, job_without_identifier]
+
+    # Export jobs and capture output
+    export_jobs_yml(jobs)
+    captured = capsys.readouterr()
+
+    # Parse the YAML output (skipping the first two lines which contain the schema)
+    yaml = YAML()
+    exported_jobs = yaml.load("\n".join(captured.out.split("\n")[2:]))
+
+    # Verify the job keys
+    assert "existing_identifier" in exported_jobs["jobs"]
+    assert "import_2" in exported_jobs["jobs"]
+
+    # Verify the job contents
+    assert exported_jobs["jobs"]["existing_identifier"]["name"] == "Test Job"
+    assert exported_jobs["jobs"]["import_2"]["name"] == "Test Job"
+
+
+def test_export_jobs_yml_with_linked_id(base_job_definition, capsys):
+    # Create a job with both identifier and id
+    job = base_job_definition.model_copy()
+    job.identifier = "test_identifier"
+    job.id = 123
+
+    # Export with include_linked_id=True
+    export_jobs_yml([job], include_linked_id=True)
+    captured = capsys.readouterr()
+
+    yaml = YAML()
+    exported_jobs = yaml.load("\n".join(captured.out.split("\n")[2:]))
+
+    # Verify linked_id is included and matches the id
+    assert exported_jobs["jobs"]["test_identifier"]["linked_id"] == 123
+
+    # Export with include_linked_id=False
+    export_jobs_yml([job], include_linked_id=False)
+    captured = capsys.readouterr()
+
+    yaml = YAML()
+    exported_jobs = yaml.load("\n".join(captured.out.split("\n")[2:]))
+
+    # Verify linked_id is not included
+    assert "linked_id" not in exported_jobs["jobs"]["test_identifier"]