A year ago, Elkhart, Ind., was an economic basket case, losing more than a quarter of its jobs in three years. But a rebound in manufacturing has helped stabilize the area, known for its band-instrument and recreational-vehicle manufacturers. The August unemployment rate for the Elkhart-Goshen metro area declined from 16.9 percent in 2009 to 13.4 percent this year, the best improvement in the US.
“Indiana is tied for No. 2 in the nation in private sector job growth, three-and-a-half times greater than the national average,” said Mark Everson, commissioner of the Indiana Department of Workforce Development’s Commissioner. “We expect to see a drop in the unemployment rate in the coming months.”
Indiana’s secret? Willard Witte, professor emeritus of economics at Indiana University in Bloomington, points to “business friendly policies” and the high concentration of workers in manufacturing, although improvement will be slow, he adds.
