A longitudinal survey, conducted 1979-88, indicates that young adults leaving nonmetro areas followed complex migration patterns normally involving multiple moves, including 15% who returned from cities to counties of origin. Rural outmigration rates and patterns differed by race and ethnicity, income, and geographic proximity to urban areas.…

According to the 1992 National Adult Literacy Survey, rural workers score somewhat lower than urban workers in ability to use written and quantitative materials. However, scores of rural and urban young adults are similar, reflecting recent improvements in rural education. Rural workers earn less than urban workers with similar literacy skills;…

A comparison of outmigration and inmigration rates for nonmetropolitan counties during 1985-90 reveals that high levels of outmigration in rural areas among young adults are mitigated by inmigration of this age group; that net outmigration is more severe among college-educated young people; and that high net-loss counties are distinguished by low…