Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Employment and unemployment
The State of Rural Minnesota: 2026
Presents an overview of rural Minnesota. Includes interactive county-level data and statistics on population migration, economic vitality, employment, income, demographics, rural versus urban comparisons, and more.
Additional links: Summary Presentation
Author(s): Kelly Asche, Marnie Werner
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Policy and Development
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Presents an overview of rural Minnesota. Includes interactive county-level data and statistics on population migration, economic vitality, employment, income, demographics, rural versus urban comparisons, and more.
Additional links: Summary Presentation
Author(s): Kelly Asche, Marnie Werner
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Policy and Development
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Rural America at a Glance: 2025 Edition
Provides an overview of social and economic factors affecting rural America, with a focus on population migration, poverty, and employment. Includes county-level maps as well as metro and nonmetro comparisons.
Author(s): Tracey Farrigan, Austin Sanders, Lauren Miller, et al.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Provides an overview of social and economic factors affecting rural America, with a focus on population migration, poverty, and employment. Includes county-level maps as well as metro and nonmetro comparisons.
Author(s): Tracey Farrigan, Austin Sanders, Lauren Miller, et al.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Small but Essential: Understanding Rural Public Health Workforce Challenges and Strengths From the 2024 Public Health Workforce Interests and Needs Survey
Examines characteristics of the rural public health workforce. Utilizes 2024 Public Health Workforce Interests and Needs Survey (PH WINS) data to analyze the rural versus urban local health department (LHD) workforce with breakdowns according to demographics, education, employment tenure and type, and intentions to stay.
Author(s): Casey P. Balio, Stephanie M. Mathis, Michael B. Meit, Betty Bekemeier
Citation: Journal of Public Health Management & Practice, 32(1S), S60-S67
Date: 01/2026
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Examines characteristics of the rural public health workforce. Utilizes 2024 Public Health Workforce Interests and Needs Survey (PH WINS) data to analyze the rural versus urban local health department (LHD) workforce with breakdowns according to demographics, education, employment tenure and type, and intentions to stay.
Author(s): Casey P. Balio, Stephanie M. Mathis, Michael B. Meit, Betty Bekemeier
Citation: Journal of Public Health Management & Practice, 32(1S), S60-S67
Date: 01/2026
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Annual Disability Statistics Compendium 2026
Presents statistics on Americans with disabilities across key social and economic indicators derived from American Community Survey (ACS) data, including employment, educational attainment, health and healthcare, and more. Section 10 presents data on people with disabilities in rural areas, and compares the prevalence of disability, demographic characteristics, employment status, income, and insurance coverage status across metropolitan, micropolitan, and noncore areas.
Date: 2026
Sponsoring organizations: Center for Research on Disability, Institute on Disability, University of New Hampshire, National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research
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Presents statistics on Americans with disabilities across key social and economic indicators derived from American Community Survey (ACS) data, including employment, educational attainment, health and healthcare, and more. Section 10 presents data on people with disabilities in rural areas, and compares the prevalence of disability, demographic characteristics, employment status, income, and insurance coverage status across metropolitan, micropolitan, and noncore areas.
Date: 2026
Sponsoring organizations: Center for Research on Disability, Institute on Disability, University of New Hampshire, National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research
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Rural Small Businesses in the North Central Region: Workforce Development
Discusses the landscape of rural businesses in the North Central Region (NCR). Provides rural versus urban data on number of employees, staffing shortages, lost sales opportunities, and issues recruiting and retaining employees, including childcare availability, housing affordability, access to healthcare, and more.
Author(s): Renee D. Wiatt
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: North Central Regional Center for Rural Development
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Discusses the landscape of rural businesses in the North Central Region (NCR). Provides rural versus urban data on number of employees, staffing shortages, lost sales opportunities, and issues recruiting and retaining employees, including childcare availability, housing affordability, access to healthcare, and more.
Author(s): Renee D. Wiatt
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: North Central Regional Center for Rural Development
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Recovery Through a Disability Lens: Impacts of the 2023 Maui Wildfires on Disability Equity and Shared Prosperity
Reports on the impacts of the August 2023 Hawaii wildfires on the housing, employment and income, health, and life satisfaction of West Maui or Kula residents with disabilities. Details how disaster preparedness and recovery policy influence health and quality-of-life disparities for people with disabilities.
Additional links: Plain Language Version
Author(s): Daniela Bond-Smith, Ruben Juarez, Alika Maunakea
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: The Economic Research Organization at the University of Hawai'i
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Reports on the impacts of the August 2023 Hawaii wildfires on the housing, employment and income, health, and life satisfaction of West Maui or Kula residents with disabilities. Details how disaster preparedness and recovery policy influence health and quality-of-life disparities for people with disabilities.
Additional links: Plain Language Version
Author(s): Daniela Bond-Smith, Ruben Juarez, Alika Maunakea
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: The Economic Research Organization at the University of Hawai'i
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Assessing Measurement Invariance in Neighborhood Socioeconomic Environment Across Levels of Urbanicity
Examines neighborhood socioeconomic status (NSES) variables by census tract and their relationship to public health. Provides data on poverty, use of public assistance, employment characteristics, transportation insecurity, education, and more, by higher density urban, lower density urban, suburban/small town, and rural location.
Author(s): S. S. A. De Silva, Melissa A. Meeker, Tara P. McAlexander, et al.
Citation: Journal of Urban Health, 102, 1094-1103
Date: 10/2025
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Examines neighborhood socioeconomic status (NSES) variables by census tract and their relationship to public health. Provides data on poverty, use of public assistance, employment characteristics, transportation insecurity, education, and more, by higher density urban, lower density urban, suburban/small town, and rural location.
Author(s): S. S. A. De Silva, Melissa A. Meeker, Tara P. McAlexander, et al.
Citation: Journal of Urban Health, 102, 1094-1103
Date: 10/2025
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Caregiving in the US 2025: Caring Across States
Offers data on caregivers including demographics, tasks performed, finances and employment, and wellness. Includes rural, suburban, and urban breakdown for caregivers in 32 states.
Additional links: State-Specific Findings
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organizations: AARP, National Alliance for Caregiving
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Offers data on caregivers including demographics, tasks performed, finances and employment, and wellness. Includes rural, suburban, and urban breakdown for caregivers in 32 states.
Additional links: State-Specific Findings
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organizations: AARP, National Alliance for Caregiving
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2025 Arkansas State Epidemiological Outcomes Workgroup: Annual Profile of Substance Use
Provides information on youth and adult substance abuse in Arkansas to help guide substance abuse prevention decision-making. Highlights consequences such as arrests, suicide, and depression and focuses on alcohol, tobacco, illicit drug, and prescription drug use. Includes county-level profiles and an overview of a variety of community and personal health indicators.
Additional links: County Report
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Arkansas Department of Human Services, UA Little Rock MidSOUTH Center for Prevention and Training, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
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Provides information on youth and adult substance abuse in Arkansas to help guide substance abuse prevention decision-making. Highlights consequences such as arrests, suicide, and depression and focuses on alcohol, tobacco, illicit drug, and prescription drug use. Includes county-level profiles and an overview of a variety of community and personal health indicators.
Additional links: County Report
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Arkansas Department of Human Services, UA Little Rock MidSOUTH Center for Prevention and Training, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
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Youth Disconnection in The Rapides Foundation Service Area, 2025
Reporting analyzing young people between 16 and 24 that do not work or go to school, or "disconnected youth," in 8 Louisiana parishes. Offers statewide and national comparisons and considers regional disparities. Discusses the role of rurality and education in disconnection, among other indicators. Includes parish-level data.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Measure of America, The Rapides Foundation
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Reporting analyzing young people between 16 and 24 that do not work or go to school, or "disconnected youth," in 8 Louisiana parishes. Offers statewide and national comparisons and considers regional disparities. Discusses the role of rurality and education in disconnection, among other indicators. Includes parish-level data.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Measure of America, The Rapides Foundation
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