If youth employment programs for rural areas are to be successful in helping rural youth to find employment that is both desirable and developmental, the diversity of ability, skills, needs, life goals, and particular circumstances of these young people must be taken into consideration. According to a 1976 study by Kuvlesky and Edington, there is a strong tendency for particular ethnic patterns to exist in the occupational aspirations of rural disadvantaged youth. There is also great intracategory variability for each ethnic-gender type. Findings over a 10-year period indicate that Mexican American youth are socially, culturally, and psychologically bi-ethnic but that they vary in terms of what ethnic subculture traits they want to maintain and in what social contexts they desire to interact with Anglos. In general, Mexican American girls are more comfortable in bi-ethnic work situations than are many Mexican American boys. Though youth vary in the type of employment they want and need, they are very concerned about getting employment and earning money. There is a shortage of jobs for disadvantaged rural youth and a lack of diversity in those jobs that are available. A state and federally funded national policy aimed at improving employment opportunities, social and work skills, and counseling services for disadvantaged rural youth is one means of correcting this situation. (CM)