South Bend – Elkhart
South Bend, Indiana, is the most populous city in and the county seat of St. Joseph County. South Bend is the principal city in the South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI, Metropolitan Statistical Area.* As of 2024, the city had a population of 103,713.
Elkhart, Indiana is located about 15 miles east of South Bend and is a principal city in the Elkhart-Goshen Metropolitan Statistical Area.* Elkhart is often called the “RV Capital of the World” because of the high concentration of RV manufacturers in the region. As of 2024, the city had a population of 53,690.
* MSAs are defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget.Quick Stats
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The South Bend Futurecast Event
University Grill
1700 Mishawaka Ave,
South Bend, IN 46615
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Join us to discuss how the changing economic environment will affect the local region, Indiana and the nation in the coming year.
This event is co-hosted by the IU South Bend Judd Leighton School of Business and Economics, the IBRC and the Kelley School of Business.
What did we say last year about the South Bend and Elkhart regions?
Published December 2025
Despite headwinds from higher interest rates and elevated tariffs, the South Bend-Mishawaka and Elkhart-Goshen labor markets demonstrated notable resilience in 2025. The labor force expanded, employment growth outpaced the national average and the unemployment rate declined. At the same time, labor costs rose at a faster pace, reflecting tighter labor market conditions. The housing market in St. Joseph County remained active in 2025, with increases in new single-family home construction and closed sales of existing homes.
In the South Bend-Mishawaka metropolitan area, the ongoing construction of the General Motors-Samsung SDI battery facilities and the Amazon data center will continue to stimulate labor demand in 2026. The local unemployment rate is projected to range from 4.3% to 4.5%, with modest wage growth reflecting the higher national price level. Household income is expected to rise further as total work hours increase.
In the Elkhart-Goshen MSA, employment is expected to expand modestly, with unemployment hovering between 4.0% and 4.2%. Manufacturing accounts for about 46% of total nonfarm employment, with most positions tied to recreational vehicle (RV) production. Accordingly, a projected 3.9% increase in RV shipments to 350,000 units in 2026 should help sustain local manufacturing employment and stabilize broader labor market conditions. The wage rate is also expected to rise modestly, supporting a corresponding increase in household income.
Read the full South Bend / Elkhart article »
Each year in December, the Indiana Business Research Center publishes a special Outlook edition of the Indiana Business Review.
Published continuously since 1926, the Indiana Business Review is a quarterly publication that provides analysis and insight on economic and demographic issues.