Qualitative interview study reveals competing push and pull migration factors in rural-raised young adults, highlighting tensions between community attachment and career opportunities.
Life in rural communities is often marked by strong ties to land, agriculture, and close interpersonal relationships, yet remoteness can limit educational and employment opportunities. As a result, internal migration becomes a significant consideration for adults raised in rural areas who seek improved quality of life. This study examines the perceptions of rural homegrown adults in Israel regarding motives for internal migration, using the push-pull theoretical framework. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 23 adults who grew up in the Israeli northern rural periphery. Deductive thematic analysis identified two main push factors: limited educational opportunities and restricted employment options, and three pull factors: ideology, community significance, and family support. The analysis further revealed three participant profiles: doubters, compromisers, and determinates. Overall, the findings illuminate the tension between strong attachment to place, identity, and belonging, and aspirations for broader life opportunities, highlighting the complex role of rurality in shaping migration-related decisions.
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Yael Grinshtain (2026) studied this question.
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