Outlooks for the Future
Rural Westerners expect an economic rebound. On a scale from 1 – extremely poor to 7 – extremely good, respondents rated their counties economic health as good (4.7) before the pandemic, poor at the time of survey (3.3), and reported they expected it to rebound (4.2) to slightly good by this time next year.
Those with lower levels of educational attainment were far more likely to report their county would be in good economic health by this time next year.
Republicans were more bullish on their county’s economy. They were far more likely to report their county was in good economic health before the pandemic (Republicans=66%, Democrats=52%), in good economic health at the time of survey (Republicans=28%, Democrats=17%), and will be in good health a year from now (Republicans=62%, Democrats=32%).
Many residents of the rural West expect an economic rebound a year from now, with Republicans most optimistic about the recovery.