Funded Research
Education Careers and Migration of Rural Youth: What's Happening to Rural America's Future?
Source: USDA
Active: 11/15/06 - 9/14/10
Investigator(s):
Diane McLaughlin
Anastasia Snyder
Understanding the educational, career and migration aspirations of rural youth, what factors shape their attitudes, whether they actually attain their goals, and the forces that determine their success in meeting these goals is a critical issue that has become even more so for rural areas and small towns in recent decades. The loss of young adults from rural areas has very real implications for rural development and the future viability of areas with declining populations. For rural youth, educational, work, and residential migration aspirations and outcomes are important for their future well-being. In turn, the future success or failure of many rural communities depends on the successful development and retention of their youth. These two issues--the future success of rural youth and the future vitality of rural communities--are unfortunately often at odds with one another. The main objective of this study is to better understand the choices and outcomes facing today's rural youth, with comparisons between rural and urban youth, and how the educational and occupational attainment process for rural youth might be unique and closely linked with residential migration. Analysis of primary and secondary data sources will examine education, career and migration outcomes, multi-level predictors, and highlight the intersection of these three outcomes in the paths rural youth take from adolescence to adulthood. Findings from this study will broaden our understanding of youth development and also inform rural development strategies that aim to promote high quality youth, youth retention and sustainable communities.
