Looking to expand candidate pool? Rural recruiting can be an option

Not so long ago, people living away from urban centers didn’t have the opportunity to work for an employer headquartered in a faraway city. But technology has made remote work not just possible but also often advantageous for both employers and employees. Now, at least for some kinds of workers, employers aren’t so limited geographically. They can branch out and bring in talent from far beyond a manageable commute. By tapping into talent outside the cities, employers don’t just expand their pool of candidates; they also benefit by gaining the perspective of people with a nonurban lifestyle, and they can give existing employees who want to live far from the hustle and bustle of an urban area the flexibility to relocate.

Why recruit in rural areas?

This many years post-pandemic, employers continue the remote versus in-office debate. While remote work was a saving grace during the pandemic, many organizations now want their employees back in the office—at least most of the time.

But other employers see advantages to continuing work-from-home arrangements, feeling the pros outweigh the cons. For example, some employers are eager to reduce costs by downsizing office space.

For employers committed to allowing at least some remote work, recruiting in rural areas can bring many benefits, including new ideas from people who have different life experiences than their urban colleagues.