Securing a Future in Nonmetropolitan Areas: Community and Family Influences on Young Adults' Intentions to Stay for Employment☆

Abstract

This study examines how community perceptions, family‐related factors, and other psychosocial factors collectively shape young adults' intentions to stay in their nonmetropolitan communities for employment. Research on nonmetropolitan populations' intentions to stay has increasingly highlighted community factors, including perceptions of the community and social connections. However, perceptions of the community have often been studied linearly and researchers have overlooked the multidimensional nature of employment decisions. Thus, this study conducted a latent profile analysis of 513 nonmetropolitan young adults and identified four distinct profiles: positive perceptions of social and professional characteristics (38.79%), positive perceptions of overall community characteristics (35.28%), positive perceptions of long‐term life planning characteristics (15.79%), and negative perceptions of overall community characteristics (10.14%). Path analyses indicated that community perception profiles, characterized by more positive perceptions of family‐friendliness and enjoyment of an active social and professional life, are associated with greater intention to obtain or retain local employment in a nonmetropolitan community. The findings are mediated by the effects of embeddedness within a community and organization. Family support also plays a crucial role in job seekers' intentions to stay for employment. They also value their own perceptions of fewer barriers to staying in nonmetropolitan organizations. These findings provide policy implications for attracting and retaining young nonmetropolitan workers by aligning their aspirations with community, work, and social characteristics.