More focus on women, youth and telecommuting could rescue declining rural towns
Experts say that with the population declining and aging in rural areas, small towns need to find a path to future survival.
In Veteli, Central Ostrobothnia, some of the government s coronavirus financial has been used to hire a a youth worker. Photo of central Veteli in April 2021.
Image: Kalle Niskala / Yle
While there are some exceptions, the big picture shows the population is declining and aging in rural areas of Finland, with growth concentrated in a few larger cities and their surrounding areas, and many smaller towns are struggling to avoid facing reality.