A vibrant countryside is a national resource. A prerequisite for a
functioning rural community is a balanced demographic structure, which is
difficult to achieve for young people migration to cities and male domination
of the population. The economic structure of rural areas has changed
dramatically in the 21st century, and demographic and economic changes have
contributed to mismatch between rural jobs and labor. The development of rural
areas is also partly differentiated. The latest challenge in rural development
is the geographical centralization of educational places for young people and
reduction of the network of educational institutions. On the other hand,
vocational education reforms can provide flexible opportunities for developing
education if the specific needs of rural areas are identified.

 Against this background, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
has launched a project with a focus on the pathways for employment of rural
youth. This study looks at entrepreneurship as a career option for a young
person in rural areas from three perspectives: entrepreneurship paths in
different target groups, entrepreneurial models and work-based learning. The
theoretical starting point of the research is entrepreneurial abilities. The
study follows the framework, where individual background factors such as
education, hobbies, work experience and role models influence perceived
entrepreneurial self-efficacy and perceived desirability of entrepreneurship,
which, in turn, affect entrepreneurship as a possible career choice.

 Entrepreneurship is first and foremost viewed as a young person being
an owner-manager of a firm at some point in his or her life. At the same time,
however, entrepreneurship is recognized as being an internal attitude and willingness
to behave entrepreneurially in any working context. The study is based on a
literature review, a questionnaire for young people and interviews with entrepreneurs
and public actors. The study involves six case areas across Finland. The survey
has just been finished and the data (n = 402) analysis in progress.
Presentation at the research meeting focuses on preliminary findings of the survey.