POLICY BRIEF (WG3 – 2026)

Future employment opportunities and changes in rural youth labour markets

This policy brief examines the evolving employment opportunities and labour market dynamics affecting young people living in rural areas across Europe. It highlights how structural economic changes, demographic trends, digital transformation, and environmental transitions are reshaping rural labour markets and influencing the prospects available to rural youth. The document brings together research and insights from a multidisciplinary group of European scholars and practitioners to identify both emerging challenges and potential opportunities for young people in rural regions.
The brief emphasises that rural youth face a combination of persistent and emerging barriers to stable employment. These include limited local job opportunities, the out-migration of young and skilled populations, lower access to higher education and professional training, and weaker infrastructure compared to urban areas. At the same time, the transformation of sectors such as agriculture, the rise of digital and remote work, and the expansion of green and circular economy initiatives are opening new possibilities that could help revitalise rural labour markets.
A key focus of the report is the role of policy in supporting rural youth employment and preventing further territorial inequalities. The authors underline the importance of integrated rural development strategies that combine economic diversification, improved education and training systems, digital connectivity, and stronger links between local labour markets and broader regional or national economies. Such approaches are essential to ensure that rural youth are not excluded from the opportunities created by technological and economic transitions.
The document also stresses the importance of youth participation in shaping rural policies and development strategies. Empowering young people as active stakeholders in local development—through entrepreneurship support, innovation initiatives, and participatory governance—can contribute to building more resilient and attractive rural communities.
Overall, the policy brief calls for coordinated action among policymakers, educational institutions, employers, and civil society organisations to strengthen rural youth employment pathways. By investing in skills, connectivity, innovation, and inclusive development, European rural areas can better harness the potential of their younger generations and support sustainable social and economic futures.

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EURYO Policy Brief: Future employment opportunities and changes in rural youth labour markets

AUTHORS

• Antonella Rocca, University of Naples “Parthenope” (Italy)
• Claudia Petrescu, Research Institute for Quality of Life, Romanian Academy (Romania)
• Leonor Bettencourt, Center for Social Research and Intervention, Iscte (Portugal)
• Luca Koltai, HÉTFA Research Institute, Hungary (Hungary)
• Kinga Toth, HÉTFA Research Institute, Hungary (Hungary)
• Ruta Braziene, Department of Social Policy, Vilnius University (Lithuania)
• Bianca Buligescu, Research Institute for Quality of Life, Romanian Academy (Romania)
• Òscar Prieto-Flores School of Education & Psychology, University of Girona (Spain)
• Mateusz Smoter Institute for Structural Research IBS (Poland)
• Tatiana Ferreira, Politécnico de Santarém (Portugal)
• Mariano Soler-Porta, Universidad de Málaga (Spain)

Antonella Rocca: coordination, conceptualisation and writing; Claudia Petrescu and Leonor Bettencourt: conceptualisation and writing; Luca Koltai and Ruta Braziene: workshop managing and description; Tatiana Ferreira and Mariano Soler-Porta: editing and graphical part; Oscar Prieto Flores, Bianca Beligescu, and Mateusz Smoter: review and editing

ISBN: 978-989-33-9375-8
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18925553
Cite as: Rocca, A., Petrescu, C., Bettencourt, L., Koltai, L., Toth, K., Braziene, R., Buligescu, B., Prieto-Flores, O., Smoter, M., Ferreira, T., Soler-Porta, M. (2026). Future employment opportunities and changes in rural youth labour markets. Policy Brief EURYO – European Rural Youth Observatory