I came of age during the Great Recession in Elkhart, Ind., known as the “RV Capital of the World.” In March 2009, the jobless rate in the Elkhart region skyrocketed to nearly 20 percent, the worst in the country. Most of my friends’ parents were laid off or underemployed. Everyone, no matter their socioeconomic status, struggled.

But by 2018, Elkhart’s economy seemed to have recovered entirely. It was even called “Jobsville, USA” in a Wall Street Journal article, and compared to an oil economy or a “Kuwait in the cornfields.” The unemployment rate hovered at just over 2 percent.

I have encountered many economists who say that if you want to know how the U.S. economy is doing, look at Elkhart. Like similar Rust Belt communities, Elkhart’s economy is in a constant state of boom or bust.

In December 2024, Elkhart’s unemployment rate was 4 percent, a 1.5 percent decrease from July 2024. A quick search on Indeed shows that more than 200 jobs are currently available in the RV industry. Despite news about the

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