OMAHA, N.E.(KELO)- Rising pessimism and declining jobs for manufacturers in our region.

That’s the main finding of this month’s Midamerica Manufacturing Business Conditions Index from Creighton University.

Over the past year, the region’s job openings dropped by 156-thousand…or more than 16-percent.

Economist Dr. Ernie Goss says it all translates into a neutral or negative trend.

South Dakota’s economy was the strongest in the region…but was down slightly from January.