Abstract: The identify factors affecting on migration youths to urban centers is very important to rural
program development. For develop strategies that attract and keep youth in rural communities, reasons youth
migrate to urban centers must be closely examined and identified. The research method employed was correlativedescriptive.
The population consisted rural youth in Shoushtar township of Khuzestan province in Iran. A random
sample of rural youths (n=360) was selected. Data collected were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the
Social Sciences (SPSS). Appropriate statistical procedures for description (frequencies, percent, means, and standard
deviations) were used. The main result of the study revealed that top reasons by youth for moving to urban centre
including: employment, education, family-related and to get away. Also the top eight strategies for retaining youth
to rural communities were: Improve career opportunities, Provide work experience opportunities , Improve
opportunities for education after high school, Improve opportunities for social activities, Improve access to
amenities, Promote the advantages of rural living, establishment of youth advisory committees establishment of
youth priorities for local government, Promote youth involvement in community decision making. From a
development perspective, the youth are the future for any country and the world. The potential of youth to transform
rural communities needs to be recognized, especially in developing countries where the majority of citizens depend
on agriculture as a source of livelihood. If rural development is to be sustainable, the rural youth need to be brought
in the mainstream of the development process, no matter whether the development initiatives come from the public
or private sector. Rural development in the long-term depends on how the youth are prepared to cope with the
challenges they are likely to face as rural citizens.