청년의 노동경험을 통해 본 농촌 노동시장 특성: 제약과 이행의 장기화 = Characteristics of the Rural Labor Market through the Work Experiences of Youth: Constraints and Prolonged Transitions

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Since the mid-2010s, the discourse on urban-to-rural migration in South Korea has shifted to focus on youth. In the context of policies that encourage youth to migrate to rural areas, it is necessary to examine their transition trajectories in rural regions where the labor market is limited. Completing the transition into the labor market is a critical task in the life course of youth. This study aims to explore the characteristics of the rural labor market and the transition trajectories of urban-to rural migrant youth based on in-depth individual interviews. The analysis reveals that the rural labor market makes it difficult for youth to complete their transitions due to the characteristics of rural labor market such as a closed entry structure, limited job opportunities restricting career development, and a backward work environment. In this constrained rural labor market, youth are often forced to explore new transition paths and face a situation where they must navigate uncertain trajectories through individualized choices. Economically active youth were situated in a “bridge transition trajectory,” the transition for the transition, made possible through a combination of personal effort and unexpected opportunities. However, this bridge transition does not guarantee a stable outcome, as it is more of a continuation of partially connected transitions rather than upward mobility, such as career development. In short, the constrained rural environment makes youth transitions more unstable and prolonged. This study is significant as an exploratory study on the characteristics of the ‘youth-rural specific labor market.