When it comes to creating jobs, a recent study found areas in Michiana to be among the nation's top-performing.
The South Bend Tribune reports that the study, by the financial publication 24/7 Wall St., ranked the nation’s top 50 metropolitan statistical areas based on the percentage at which their jobs increased over the past four years. The U.S. government to collect data uses statistical areas, which have a relatively high population at their core.
The Elkhart-Goshen area, consisting of only Elkhart County, was ranked 10th nationwide and first in Indiana when it comes to job creation over the past four years. And the South Bend-Mishawaka area, consisting of St. Joseph County in Indiana and Cass County in Michigan, was ranked 42nd in the country. Results of the study, “American Cities Adding the Most Jobs,” are available here.
Jobs in the Elkhart-Goshen area increased over the four-year period — from June 2012 through June 2016 — by 14 percent to 100,121 from 87,822. As of June, the area’s unemployment rate was 3.9 percent.
In the South Bend-Mishawaka area, jobs increased over the same period by 10.8 percent to 152,037 from 137,175 . The area’s June unemployment rate was 4.5 percent.
The booming recreational vehicle industry has created many jobs in recent years across Elkhart County, which is known as the RV capital of the world. “Many have significantly reinvested in their businesses and have taken the right steps to strengthen them during the boom period,” said Chris Stager, vice president of retention and expansion for the Economic Development Corp. of Elkhart County.