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Iowaâs rural economy expands in May as hiring increases BY MICHAEL CRUMB, Senior Staff Writer Tuesday, May 25, 2021 10:39 AM Iowa’s rural economy improved in May behind solid job gains, according to a survey of rural Main Street bankers released Thursday. Creighton University’s Rural Main Street Index for Iowa jumped more than 10 points to 79.9 in May, up from 69.8 in April. It was buoyed in part by gains in the new-hiring index, which increased to 68.4, up nearly 5 points since April. Despite those gains, Iowa’s rural nonfarm employment remains 2.9%, or about 19,000 jobs, below pre-pandemic levels, the report showed. According to bankers who were surveyed, despite improvements in May, the continued lag in hiring below pre-COVID-19 levels was restraining growth. ....