Addressing the out-migration of young people from the Scottish Highlands and Islands: A review of relevant issues and interventions from the Nordic Region and the wider Arctic

This report presents the results of research conducted as part of the Scottish Government’s Arctic Connections programme. It has explored the ways in which countries in the Arctic region have attempted to address the challenge of youth out-migration from their rural and island communities; and has identified policies, interventions, and examples of good practice that might potentially be adopted, or adapted, in the Scottish Highlands and Islands context.

The research was entirely desk-based, and consisted of two elements. Firstly, an extensive literature search was conducted, in which issues surrounding rural youth out-migration in Arctic region countries, and the approaches taken to addressing the problem, were identified and critically reviewed. Over 800 discrete items were consulted as part of this process, and almost 500 are cited in this report.

Secondly, four complementary interviews were conducted with key stakeholders from across the Arctic region and in Scotland (one from Iceland, one from the Faroe Islands, two from Scotland). These interviews explored rural youth out-migration issues in more detail, and focused on the potential transferability of policies, interventions, and good practice to the Scottish Highlands and Islands context.