Assessment of relationship between profile characteristics of rural youth and their occupational aspirations

The present study was conducted with the specific objective of “To find out the relationship between profile of rural youth and their occupational aspirations”. For the study, Parbhani, Nanded, Hingoli and Jalna districts were selected randomly from Marathwada region. From each districts two talukas were selected randomly. From each taluka three villages were selected randomly and from each village ten rural youth were selected randomly. Thus total sample size 240. According to National Youth Policy India 2014, youths between the age of 15 to 29 were selected. Ex-post facto research design was adopted in this study. From the study it was found that, respondent’s education, family type, family occupation, family annual income, land holding, social participation, social participation, mass media exposure, economic motivation and risk orientation were positively and highly significantly correlated with occupational aspirations of rural youth whereas father’s education, mother’s education and family size were positively and significantly correlated with occupational aspirations and the gender had non-significant relationship with occupational aspirations of rural youth. These variables influence the occupational aspirations of rural youth, they do so to a moderate extent. The findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to enhance the aspirations of rural youth toward occupations that align with regional and national development goals.