Youth in rural areas: new study highlights key areas for policy support and action
Young people in rural and remote areas face particular challenges when it comes to participation, access to education, employment and youth services. A new study from the Youth Partnership – a European Commission and Council of Europe initiative – underscores the need for a more tailored, inclusive and strategic approach to rural youth policy and stronger cooperation among stakeholders to help tackle these challenges.
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The study, titled ‘HERE TO STAY? The transitions of rural youth before and after the Covid-19 pandemic’, is the result of research aimed at enhancing evidence and data on young people in rural areas and their diverse perspectives. The goal is to better understand the barriers they face in accessing opportunities for non-formal learning, active citizenship and participation at local, regional, national and European levels.
Overall, the Youth Partnership’s research highlights the need for a more tailored, inclusive and strategic approach to rural youth policy, aimed at supporting younger rural generations’ livelihoods and aspirations, as well as stronger cooperation among stakeholders, the formation of interest groups focused on rural youth, and greater integration into EU programmes such as Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe.
Rural youth trends, challenges and opportunities
The research analyses six key aspects of young people’s transition to adulthood: education; support systems; youth participation; employment; mobility; and access to leisure, culture and sports. It identifies clear trends over the last few years which positively support young people’s transition to adulthood:
- the rate of young people in rural areas obtaining tertiary education has increased – the share of those aged 25-34 who completed a university degree in 2023 ranges from 8.8% in Romania to 56.2% in Ireland;
- the rate of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) has decreased – 10 out of 13 countries analysed showed a reduction in NEET rates in rural areas, with the greatest decrease seen in Italy at 6.2%;
- informal community support systems – friends, family and neighbours – provide immense support for young people during their transition to adulthood.
On the other hand, young people in rural areas still face ongoing challenges that require policy action:
- only a small fraction of young people in rural areas are engaged in political or civic organisations, highlighting the broader issue of representation. For example, in the countries analysed, 5-10% of young people in rural areas are involved in political organisations, compared to 6-14% in cities;
- while most young people work or study, they do not perceive the job opportunities in rural areas as decent or meaningful;
- employment is heavily dependent on access to transport (such as car ownership) and social capital (informal contacts and networks, for example), rather than institutional support from public employment services.
The findings show that some of the key areas that require continuous policy support are: strengthening the quality of available jobs for rural youth, encouraging meaningful youth participation and purposely targeting the informal community-based support systems, which are essential for sustainable rural development.
Support mechanisms at European level
At the European level, institutional commitment to improving conditions for young people living in rural areas is visible through key policy documents. On 7 May 2025, the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers adopted a recommendation on the social, economic and political participation of rural youth, which urges Member States to adopt policies tailored to the needs of rural youth. This includes access to services, the right to decent housing, quality education, affordable and safe mobility options and public transportation, adequate data connectivity and internet access, social security and healthcare.
The European Commission has a strategic policy framework for rural youth, through its long-term vision for rural areas and rural action plan, the EU youth strategy for 2019-2027, the European Youth Goal #6 Moving Rural Youth Forward, and the inclusion and diversity framework of Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps. In addition, in 2024 the Council of the EU, under the Hungarian Presidency, shared its conclusions on raising opportunities for young people in rural and remote areas.
On top of this, EU funding and frameworks, such as the common agricultural policy (CAP), underpin several national rural development strategies (for example, in Spain, Romania and Ireland). While CAP’s generational renewal and social innovation objectives do not explicitly target rural youth, they have an impact. For instance, by providing funding for people under 40 to start and maintain farms, or for agricultural entrepreneurship.
Policy gap at national level
However, when it comes to national policies, the research identifies a significant policy gap concerning rural youth: most countries covered by the analysis do not explicitly recognise rural youth as a distinct policy subgroup, but rather include it under broader rural policies or youth policies.
Despite this, the findings point to the existence of a vibrant ecosystem of practices and projects led by civil society and international networks aimed at addressing rural youth challenges. These initiatives, some of which are included as case studies in the report, are often project-based and focused on education, employment, mental health and access to recreational infrastructure.
The Youth Partnership’s study is based on European-level data from Eurostat and Eurobarometer, national statistics, and responses from 2 503 young people in rural areas to a comprehensive multilingual online survey. It analyses the experiences of young people (aged 18-30) living in rural areas in 14 European countries: Armenia, Austria, Croatia, Estonia, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Malta, Portugal, Romania, Serbia and Spain.
Find out more about the Youth Partnership’s previous research and other resources focused on young people in rural areas.
Listen to the Youth Partnership’s Under 30’ podcast ‘Rural youth's transitions’.
Explore the latest Rural Pact resources on the topic of youth, and join the Community Group on youth in rural areas.
Author: Lana Pasic, Youth Research and Policy Manager, Youth Partnership