In rural areas limited opportunties for work and vocational training occur. Distance from towns results in disadvantages not offset by commuting, particularly not by 15-16 year olds with limited mobility. The lack of training facilities is mainly due to the industrial structure, dominated by firms making consumer goods and basic industry rather than by capital goods manufacturers with a greater demand for qualified labour, and offering more and better training facilities. Rural training facilities offer few long term occupational prospects, as demand for skills decreases due to stagnation and rationalization. Another disadvantage is that the firms offering vocational training here are usually small or medium sized with sub-standard programmes and workshops, technical colleges are missing. Commerce and services, in rural areas show little specialization. The lack of training facilities particularly affects females. The baby-boom of the 1960s, is now causing higher demand for apprenticeships without a rise in supply. These disadvantages influence overall development, particularly the capital goods industries which regional policy tries to establish. Adequate facilities such as technical training centres could be a more effective development factor than financial incentives to firms to locate there. Thus the migration of the more highly motivated, young people to find training facilities could be conteracted. Moreover, the existing labour force would acquire a higher level of skill. Such factors could influence firms looking for a new location in a positive way. Financial assistance to firms willing to settle in rural areas and educational policy have to be coordinated to prevent the drift away. -from English summary
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