The purpose of the article is to reveal of theoretical aspects of functioning of the labor market and methodical aspects of its assessment, and to establish actual trends for this market in rural areas of Ukraine in context of transformational changes. Research methods. The theoretical basis of the article is the dialectical method of cognition, the systematic method for studying of transformational tendencies in the labor market in rural areas of Ukraine and scientific publications of scientists on development problems of the labor market. The following methods were used to achieve the article’s purpose: statistical and economic analysis for assessing the current state of the labor market in rural areas; comparative analysis for defining trends in the labor market in a process of market transformations; graphical for forming figures and diagrams. Research results. Results of the analysis of theoretical, methodical and applied aspects of functioning of the labor market in rural areas were presented. Theoretical essence of the labor market in rural areas was disclosed. Methodical approaches to assessing trends of the labor market in rural areas were further developed. It was established a manifestation of five trends in this market, namely weakening of labor supply; reduced demand for labor; insufficient level of development of the Ukrainian economy on basis of an assessment of the population employment structure by types of economic activity; low level of the economy’s diversification and professional properties of the “labor force”; insufficient motives (according to the level of remuneration) of “labor force” due to employment in branches of industrial production and services. Elements of scientific novelty. Attention was focused on appropriateness of using the author's methodical approach to analysing trends of the labor market in rural areas by evaluating: the supply of “labor force” (by indicators of a number of economically active population, level of economic activity, number of unemployed and level of unemployment), demand for “labor force” (by indicators of a number of people employed, their level of employment, number of vacancies and workload of unemployed per vacancy), and price of “labor force” (by indicators of salary). Practical significance. Using the author's methodical approach to assessing trends in the labor market will allow to provide a comprehensive analysis of the state of this market. Defined five trends in the labor market in rural areas can be used as a basis for developing strategic and policy documents for regulation of the situation in this market. Tabl.: 3. Figs.: 8. Refs.: 13