The purpose of the article is to highlight problems of inequality of access of rural and urban youth to education and formation of starting labour potential, as well as to identify possible ways for eliminating territorial injustice. Research methods. Basis for the study were general scientific and special methods, works of scientists on issues of labour potential and youth policy of the state. Monographic and analytical-statistical methods were applied to analyse a status of implementation of the constitutional right of rural youth to quality education and decent work. The systematic approach contributed to the coverage of organizational, economic and legal mechanisms to ensure the transition of secondary education graduates in rural areas to the labour market through the acquisition of vocational education. Analysis and synthesis, abstract-logical tools and results of sociological surveys allowed us to generalize obstacles to self-realization of rural youth and ways for overcoming them, and to formulate conclusions. Research results. Problems of widespread reproduction of inequality of rural and urban youth in access to quality services in general secondary education institutions and their transition to the labour market through the system of vocational schools of agricultural profile were highlighted. Employment situation of rural youth and situation on the rural labour market were analysed. Conceptual directions for overcoming inequalities in formation of starting labour potential of this category of population were defined. Elements of scientific novelty. Scientific novelty of the research lies in further developed methodological approaches to determining causes of starting inequality for formation of labour potential of rural youth in comparison with urban in the transition to the labour market. Practical significance. It was proposed measures to improve mechanisms of state regulatory policy in the field of education as well as social and labour relations aimed at eliminating social injustice of rural youth. Tabl.: 2. Figs.: 1. Refs.: 26