Understanding the Employment Experiences and Migration Patterns of Rural Youth and Young Adults

The quality of life of many rural communities is tied to their ability to maintain a viable employment base of younger adults. Working age adults provide the tax base for many of the services provided by rural communities. As cohorts of younger rural residents continue to leave their communities, and their states, the quality of life for those who remain (both young and old) is reduced. This study examines the experiences of rural youth and young adults during the 1980s and 1990s with an eye toward understanding the impact of these experiences on the migration patterns of this age group. The primary objective of this study is to determine which experiences for rural teenagers and young adults, especially employment-related ones, affect the likelihood of staying or leaving the home community and/or state. The results of these analyses are used to project the future likelihood of staying or leaving the home community for teenagers currently living in rural areas.