ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Fewer than half of rural Generation Z residents in Maryland believe they can secure good jobs to remain in their home communities, according to new research from Gallup and the Walton Family Foundation released on March 24, 2025. With nearly 1.8 million people—less than 30% of Maryland’s population—living in the state’s 18 rural counties, per U.S. Census data, the study highlights a growing challenge: retaining young talent amid limited educational and career prospects.
The report, based on surveys of adults under 30, found that while rural Gen Zers are not more likely to relocate than their urban counterparts, their decisions hinge on local opportunities. Zach Hrynowski, Gallup’s senior education researcher, noted, “Possibly contrary to some of the narratives that were out at the time, we did not see any indication that they wanted to move away in large swaths. What we did notice was, there were factors about the community that would influence, one way or the other, whether a young person wanted to move.” In Maryland, rural counties like Garrett, Allegany, and Somerset lag behind urban hubs like Montgomery and Prince George’s in job growth and educational resources.
Rural Gen Zers, defined as those born between 1997 and 2012, often cite a lack of access to advanced coursework or industries like technology as a push factor. Hrynowski pointed to the semiconductor sector, a fast-growing field tied to national initiatives like the CHIPS Act, as an example. “If you’re a rural community that doesn’t have that, you might be questioning ‘Is the juice worth the squeeze? Should we be directing resources towards these programs?’” he said. Rural schools, constrained by lower enrollment and fewer teachers, struggle to offer such cutting-edge classes.
Despite these hurdles, the study found rural Gen Zers tend to stay closer to home when they do move, often within Maryland or the mid-Atlantic region, reflecting strong community ties. In contrast, urban peers are more likely to venture farther afield. Maryland’s rural population, concentrated in Western Maryland, the Eastern Shore, and Southern Maryland, faces a unique bind: young adults want to stay but see limited paths to do so. The state’s urban-rural divide is stark—while Baltimore and its suburbs drive economic activity, rural areas saw only a 0.8% job growth rate from 2018 to 2023, per Maryland Department of Labor data.
Hrynowski emphasized that rural communities need “discretionary efforts” and funding to reverse this trend. Without investment, Maryland risks “brain drain,” where skilled youth leave for opportunities elsewhere, depleting local talent pools. Nationally, 54% of rural Gen Zers aspire to stay in their hometowns, per Gallup, but only 47% see viable careers there—a gap mirrored in Maryland’s rural counties.
The findings echo broader rural challenges. A 2023 USDA report noted rural America lost 2.3% of its population since 2010, driven partly by youth outmigration. In Maryland, initiatives like the Rural Maryland Council aim to bolster economic development, but resources remain stretched. Hrynowski argued that tailored investments—whether in schools, broadband, or job training—could shift the calculus for rural Gen Z, keeping them rooted and reversing decades of decline.
