Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Employment and unemployment
Migration and Aging Across the Rural-Urban Continuum
Examines migration and aging patterns from 1980 to 2020 across the rural-urban continuum. Covers age-specific net migration by decade, retirement-age and working adult migration, aging in place, and the relationship between housing, income, employment, and health on migration. Provides charts, graphs, and county-level U.S. maps depicting migration patterns.
Additional links: Report Summary
Author(s): Justin B. Winikoff, Richelle L. Winkler, John Cromartie, Katherine J. Curtis
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Examines migration and aging patterns from 1980 to 2020 across the rural-urban continuum. Covers age-specific net migration by decade, retirement-age and working adult migration, aging in place, and the relationship between housing, income, employment, and health on migration. Provides charts, graphs, and county-level U.S. maps depicting migration patterns.
Additional links: Report Summary
Author(s): Justin B. Winikoff, Richelle L. Winkler, John Cromartie, Katherine J. Curtis
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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The Appalachian Region: A Data Overview from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey Chartbook
Provides state- and county-level information on population, age, household characteristics, housing occupancy, education, labor force, employment, transportation, income, health insurance coverage, disability, and veteran status for the 13 Appalachian states. Features statistics with breakdowns by 5 levels of population density. Includes data explorer options for Appalachian categories such as population and age, education, income and poverty, computer and broadband access, rural Appalachia versus rural America, and employment and commuting.
Additional links: Full Report
Author(s): Sara Srygley, Nurfadila Khairunnisa, Diana Elliott
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Appalachian Regional Commission, Population Reference Bureau
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Provides state- and county-level information on population, age, household characteristics, housing occupancy, education, labor force, employment, transportation, income, health insurance coverage, disability, and veteran status for the 13 Appalachian states. Features statistics with breakdowns by 5 levels of population density. Includes data explorer options for Appalachian categories such as population and age, education, income and poverty, computer and broadband access, rural Appalachia versus rural America, and employment and commuting.
Additional links: Full Report
Author(s): Sara Srygley, Nurfadila Khairunnisa, Diana Elliott
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Appalachian Regional Commission, Population Reference Bureau
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Economic and Housing Recovery Three Years After the Maui Wildfires: Findings from the Maui Recovery Survey
Reports on how economic and housing conditions have changed over time in areas affected by Hawaii's August 2023 Maui wildfires. Includes data on displacement, housing stability, rental costs, employment, poverty, unmet needs, and more.
Author(s): Daniela Bond-Smith, Sophia Davis, Caleb Wood
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of Hawai'i Economic Research Organization
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Reports on how economic and housing conditions have changed over time in areas affected by Hawaii's August 2023 Maui wildfires. Includes data on displacement, housing stability, rental costs, employment, poverty, unmet needs, and more.
Author(s): Daniela Bond-Smith, Sophia Davis, Caleb Wood
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of Hawai'i Economic Research Organization
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MauiWES Community Report - The Road to Recovery: Strengthening Health, Stability, and Resiliency Three Years After the Maui Wildfires
Reports on recovery and continued challenges in Maui after the August 2023 wildfires in Hawaii, including data from the Maui Wildfire Exposure Study (MauiWES) on physical and emotional health, housing, employment, food security, access to healthcare and other services, and other aspects of wellness among wildfire survivors. Dashboard provides results from the study in interactive form.
Additional links: Dashboard
Author(s): Ruben Juarez, Alika Maunakea, Chris Knightsbridge, et al.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: UHERO: The Economic Research Organization at the University of Hawai'i
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Reports on recovery and continued challenges in Maui after the August 2023 wildfires in Hawaii, including data from the Maui Wildfire Exposure Study (MauiWES) on physical and emotional health, housing, employment, food security, access to healthcare and other services, and other aspects of wellness among wildfire survivors. Dashboard provides results from the study in interactive form.
Additional links: Dashboard
Author(s): Ruben Juarez, Alika Maunakea, Chris Knightsbridge, et al.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: UHERO: The Economic Research Organization at the University of Hawai'i
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2025 Survey of Veteran Enrollees' Health and Use of Health Care
Report discusses the overall health and healthcare usage throughout the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Bases findings on a survey of enrollees and breaks down data by demographics, health insurance, current health status, and healthcare use, among other measures. Compares rural and urban unemployment data.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Veterans Health Administration
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Report discusses the overall health and healthcare usage throughout the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Bases findings on a survey of enrollees and breaks down data by demographics, health insurance, current health status, and healthcare use, among other measures. Compares rural and urban unemployment data.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Veterans Health Administration
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Association Between Well-Being and Occupational Class in Small Businesses in the Rural United States
Examines mental health, stress, productivity, and more across different occupational roles in the rural United States. Utilizes 2024 survey data from 1,910 employees and analyzes mental health according to blue-collar versus white-collar occupation, demographics, and mental health condition.
Author(s): Laxmi D. Adhikari, Sampada Wagle, Bhagyashree Katare
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70172
Date: 06/2026
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Examines mental health, stress, productivity, and more across different occupational roles in the rural United States. Utilizes 2024 survey data from 1,910 employees and analyzes mental health according to blue-collar versus white-collar occupation, demographics, and mental health condition.
Author(s): Laxmi D. Adhikari, Sampada Wagle, Bhagyashree Katare
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70172
Date: 06/2026
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Collaborating for Transportation Access in Rural Communities
Features the nonprofit Feonix – Mobility Rising and its work to support Waupaca County Catch a Ride in Wisconsin and the Transportation Rx program in South Texas. Shares how these programs work to improve transportation in their communities so people can more easily access healthcare, employment, and other needs.
Author(s): Allee Mead
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Features the nonprofit Feonix – Mobility Rising and its work to support Waupaca County Catch a Ride in Wisconsin and the Transportation Rx program in South Texas. Shares how these programs work to improve transportation in their communities so people can more easily access healthcare, employment, and other needs.
Author(s): Allee Mead
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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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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