Some 779 rural counties lost jobs since mid-2013, says USDA’s Economic Research Service, compared to 1,206 that held steady or notched gains. “While urban employment now exceeds pre-recession levels, rural employment remains well below its 2007 peak and has continued to fall over the last year in many areas,” said ERS. “Rural counties that are adjacent to metro areas have also experienced faster-than-average job growth since 2009, after having suffered larger-than-average job losses during the 2007-09 recession.”