While more new industrial jobs have been created in rural areas than in metropolitan centers in the last two decades, both white and minority rural workers lag behind their urban counterparts in vocational development. Since this rural labor force is composed mainly of the poor who have little schooling, formal skill training, or on-the-job training, they are generally hired for low-paying jobs. Thus, a need exists to improve vocational counseling for rural adolescents. This paper presents six suggestions for improving career counseling efforts for rural minority youths, based on a study of the career development of Black and Indian youths (N=800) from five rural counties in North Carolina. The recommendations are: (1) link career counseling for minority youths to economic and industrial development in rural areas, e.g., facilitating understanding of "high tech" occupational opportunities; (2) promote the upgrading of math and science education for minorities, possibly through use of consultation with new industries; (3) involve parents in career counseling; (4) emphasize minority female career development, e.g., advocate equal participation in rural "high tech" opportunities; (5) counsel for rural minority entrepreneurship, emphasizing formal experiences in entrepreneurial development; and (6) provide greater access to career counseling for rural minority youths. (WAS)