DEMOGRAPHIC AND GEOGRAPHIC PROBLEMS IN RURAL YOUTH EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY PROGRAMS ARE PRESENTED. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS INDICATES A HIGH PROPORTION OF EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY PROGRAMS SHOULD BE DIRECTED IN SUBURBAN AND RURAL AREAS OF THE NATION. TRANSPORTATION, WORK SITE AVAILABILITY, AND EXISTING HUMAN RESOURCES ARE LISTED AS MAJOR PROBLEMS CONFRONTING PRESENT PROGRAMS IN TERMS OF SCOPE AND SIZE. OTHER PROBLEMS INCLUDE ADMINISTRATION OF MULTI COUNTY AND STATEWIDE PROGRAMS AND LOCAL POLITICAL ISSUES. THE CONCLUSION, DESCRIBING AN OPTIMUM RURAL PROGRAM AREA, SUGGESTS THAT SUCH AREAS HAVE A MAXIMUM POPULATION DENSITY OF 100 PEOPLE PER SQUARE MILE OR 30,000 TOTAL POPULATION, INCLUDING A TOWN OF AT LEAST 10,000. IT FURTHER SUGGESTS THAT NO GROUPS SHOULD HAVE TO TRAVEL MORE THAN ONE HOUR FROM HOME TO WORK AND THAT CENTRALIZED STATEWIDE RURAL PROGRAMS WOULD ENHANCE LOCAL AND NATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS. (JS)