Due largely to outmigration of young people, the nonmetropolitan United States has a lower proportion of people in the prime working ages of 20-44 than do metropolitan areas. Discouraged workers and high levels of work-preventing disabilities have contributed to lower rates of nonmetropolitan labor force participation for each age group between 20 and 64 years of age. Nonmetropolitan residents, particularly in the South, are less educated--as indicated by higher high school drop out rates, fewer years of schooling among adults, and a lower proportion of college-educated adults. Of all the regions, the nonmetropolitan West had the highest percentage of people aged 25-34 and the lowest percentage of people aged 65 and older in 1986. The nonmetropolitan Midwest has the least advantageous age distribution: a low proportion of young adults of labor force age and a high proportion of elderly. Education needs to be a high priority in nonmetropolitan areas. While not a substitute for work experience or specific job-related training, education provides the flexibility and basic tools with which to learn new skills and adapt to changing situations. (NEC)