This article is based upon research which examined the youth labour market in Cumbria, a predominantly rural labour market located in north-west England. It argues that individual and structural considerations must be extended to incorporate employer behaviour and attitudes towards young men and women. Employers' assessment of young people's skills; their willingness to consider both young males and females for jobs; and the extent to which they are prepared through education/training to address skill gaps and/or enhance career opportunities, can have significant implications for young people's labour market opportunities. While these issues affect all young people, those living in restricted rural labour markets can face particular difficulties. Those who have poor social networks are at risk of marginalisation and/or exclusion because rural employers rely almost exclusively upon local labour that is recruited through a mix of local formal and informal networks. Therefore young people's ability and/or willingness to seek opportunities outside their local area is an important consideration. While employed young people are concentrated in relatively low-skilled jobs, the extent to which they have access to formal career and education/training opportunities is dependent upon the size and profile of local employers. There are also significant inter-county differences in the type of employment opportunities available to young people. Young people in west Cumbria, especially males, are reliant upon a declining manufacturing sector. Movement into service sector employment is likely to prove difficult because of the type of skills being demanded by employers. The findings suggest that young males knowledge and understanding of labour market change are issues that may need attention. However, there may be a reluctance and/or bias on the part of some local employers to recruit young men because they are not considered to have the requisite skills.