New data show small local firms create less than a third of new jobs in rural areas and are unreliable employment sources because many fail within their first 5 years of business. Local planners should consider mix of corporate affiliates offering potential of many jobs and small independent firms. (NEC)

The 1985 Current Population Survey found about 10 percent of nonmetro married couples (about 1.4 million) had at least 1 spouse who moonlighted (working more than 1 job). Moonlighting was associated with having children, higher income, farm affiliation, and enabling work schedules. Employment opportunities and economic needs differed by…

The structure of nonmetro employment has become increasingly diverse and decreasingly agricultural. The precise policy implications of these shifts are not self-evident, but the increasingly nonagricultural character of the rural economy is at the heart of the population turnaround. (Author/KR)

Rural southern Georgia's economic growth in 1976-81 improved employment and income for Whites but had little effect on Blacks. The percentage of employed Blacks declined, their weeks of work per year dropped, and most remained in low-skill, low-wage occupations. Blacks had lower levels of experience, training, and schooling than Whites. (JHZ)

Presents results of a 1981 survey of 2,554 household heads in low income counties in 10 southern states. Finds lack of job opportunities, not knowing the right people, not having enough training or education, not knowing where to look for jobs, and discrimination to be major problems perceived by respondents. (LFL)

Population distribution and community size make rural areas better suited to production than managerial jobs. Production jobs, however, are threatened by business cycles, foreign competition and technological displacement, more so than by education levels of rural workers. Links outmigration in rural areas to low wages. (Author/TES)