Rural populations of young adults continue to shrink, leaving towns struggling economically

More people over 65 and fewer people 20 to 44 live in small Great Plains towns than those living in suburban and urban areas, according to a recent Center for Rural Affairs study. People 20 to 44 make up 26 percent of small-town populations, 30 percent of urban areas and 35 percent of suburbs. Conversely, people over 65 make up 19 percent of rural populations, 11 percent of urban places and 16 percent in suburbs.

Jon Bailey of the Center for Rural Affairs attributes urban and suburban areas' abilities to retain young people through job creation to the "migration of young, working age adults" from rural areas. Bailey also reports the shift of younger workers to urban and suburban areas has an economic and social impact on rural America. As Jeff Caldwell of Agriculture.com writes: "As the younger residents leave small towns for metro areas, so goes the community and business investment that comes along with a larger young working population." Investment will follow young people to urban and suburban areas, Bailey reports, "to create jobs and opportunities and to meet the needs of the expanding population." (Read more)