The 2023 Rural America at a Glance Report, released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Economic Research Service, provides an in-depth view into the trends and challenges facing rural America. The report looks at this region through the lenses of population and migration, poverty, housing insecurity, job opportunities, and the potential of clean energy jobs.
Data for this report shows that the U.S. rural population is growing again after a decade of population decline. According to the report, the rural population increased by 2.6 million people from 2017 to 2018. This growth was led primarily by people moving from cities to rural areas.
Poverty remains a challenge for rural America, with 14.9 million rural Americans living in poverty. While poverty is decreasing, there are still significant disparities between poverty levels in rural and urban areas. Since 2007, poverty levels in rural America have only decreased by 0.2 percentage points.
The report shows that rural Americans are more likely to experience housing insecurity than their urban counterparts. In 2018, 12.2% of rural households were cost-burdened, meaning they spend at least 30% of their earnings on housing costs. Additionally, nearly 5 million rural households are considered severely cost-burdened, meaning they spend at least 50% of their income on housing costs.
The good news is that employment opportunities are becoming more prevalent in rural America. While the labor force has decreased over the last decade, the trend appears to be reversing itself, with employment increasing slightly in recent years. Rural Americans are also seeing an increase in high-quality jobs, which pay at least $35,000 a year and come with health care and retirement benefits.
Clean energy jobs are also becoming more available to rural Americans. As more states turn to renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, clean energy jobs are becoming more accessible to rural communities. These jobs are often well-paying and offer workers a way to engage with their local environment and create sustainability projects.
Overall, the 2023 Rural America at a Glance Report paints a hopeful picture of what’s to come for rural America. While there are still significant challenges to be addressed, there is much potential for rural communities to succeed and thrive. With an influx of people moving to rural areas, an increase in high-quality jobs, and the emergence of clean energy jobs, there’s a lot of potential for an economic revival in rural America.
The USDA Economic Research Service has provided vital insights into rural trends and challenges, and this report will be an invaluable tool for rural communities and their policymakers as they continue to strive for a better future.
