Rural Youth Outmigration: How Big Is the Problem and for Whom?

High levels of outmigration in rural America among adults ages 20-34 are largely mitigated by inmigration in this age group. Net migration losses are more severe among the best educated young people, reflecting the richer urban array of colleges and high-skill jobs. Net losses also vary sharply over space, approaching 20 percent or more of all young adults in some nonmetro counties. High net-loss counties are distinguished primarily by low inmigration rather than high outmigration.