Regional Analysis

by Amanda Rohrer - amanda.rohrer@state.mn.us
April 2009

Monthly analysis is based on unadjusted employment data.

Minneapolis-St. Paul Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)

Employment in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington MSA fell by 0.3 percent (5,100 positions) over the month of March, a month in which there is typically growth of nearly 6,000. The monthly loss is evenly divided between the public and private sectors, with the private sector experiencing a loss of 0.2 percent or 3,400 jobs. Manufacturing employment declined by 1.5 percent (2,800) with most of that loss occurring in durable-goods manufacturing, which fell by 1.8 percent (2,300). Professional and business services employment declined by 1.4 percent over the month (3,400 positions). Trade, transportation, and utilities also declined significantly, losing 0.2 percent of employment (540 positions). The most substantial growth was in educational and health services, which increased employment by 0.5 percent (1,400 jobs). Employment in leisure and hospitality grew by 0.4 percent (560 positions). Other services employment grew by 1.9 percent (more than 1,400). Mining, logging, and construction employment grew by 0.7 percent (300), half its March average growth of 1.4 percent. Government employment declined by 0.7 percent (1,700 positions). The loss was from both state and local government, with state government employment falling by 1.3 percent (more than 900) and local government falling by 0.4 percent (660 positions).

Duluth-Superior MSA

Employment in Duluth declined by 0.3 percent (340 positions) in March, a month in which there is typically growth of 0.3 percent. This is dwarfed by the over-the-year decline of 2.7 percent (3,600 positions), particularly given that there has been consistent growth throughout the last few years. About a third of the decline was driven by the private sector. Mining, logging, and construction declined by 2.1 percent (140 positions), and manufacturing employment declined by 1 percent (80 positions). Those declines were partially balanced by near-normal growth in educational and health services, which increased by 0.3 percent (more than 80) and in other services, which increased by 1.7 percent (nearly 100). The bulk of the employment decline came from the public sector, with an overall decline of 0.8 percent (220 positions). Local government employment fell by 1.2 percent (210).

Rochester MSA

Rochester employment grew by 0.1 percent (less than 130) over the month, well below the average March growth of 0.6 percent (around 600). The growth came from private sector employment while government employment remained flat. A 1.5 percent decline (170 positions) in manufacturing employment was more than balanced out by growth in trade, transportation, and utilities (0.3 percent, 50), educational and health services (0.3 percent, 120), leisure and hospitality (0.7 percent, 60), and other services (2.6 percent, 90). All of these industries followed typical March trends, although with less substantial growth. By contrast, professional and business services declined by 0.6 percent (in absolute terms, only a very moderate 30) in a month in which growth averages 3.1 percent (150 positions). Government employment in Rochester was unchanged, with absolute change of less than 10 at all levels of government.

St. Cloud MSA

Employment change in St. Cloud was flat over the month of March, but was down by 1.9 percent over the year. Private and public sector employment change was well-balanced with neither experiencing significant decline or growth. Within private sector employment, though, goods-producing industries suffered a slight decline (0.7 percent, less than 150) while service-providing industries grew by slightly more than 150 (0.2 percent). Manufacturing employment was down by 1 percent (160 jobs), while professional and business services, educational and health services, and leisure and hospitality were each up by less than 1 percent and less than 100, all lower than the typical March growth. Government employment’s net change was less than 10, with a decline of 1.2 percent (less than 70) in state government and an increase of 0.6 percent (just over 50) in local government employment.

Fargo-Moorhead MSA

Employment in the Fargo-Moorhead MSA was up by less than 0.1 percent (60 jobs) over the month. The source of this modest growth was the private sector, which increased by 0.1 percent (100 positions) overall. The most substantial gains were in leisure and hospitality (up 1 percent, 100) and trade, transportation, and utilities (up 0.8 percent, 200), balancing out losses in mining, logging, and construction (down 1.9 percent, 110) and in manufacturing (down 1.1 percent, 100), as well as much smaller declines in other industries. Employment in government declined by 0.2 percent (40 positions). While there was a slight increase in state government employment (up 0.3 percent, 20), local government employment fell by 0.7 percent (60 positions).

Grand Forks MSA

Employment in Grand Forks fell by less than 0.1 percent over the month (down 40). Private sector employment was harder hit, falling slightly more than 0.1 percent (down 50), with most of the loss coming from mining, logging, and construction (down 1.5 percent, 50, manufacturing (down 1.4 percent, 60), and educational and health services (down 0.3 percent, 30). Leisure and hospitality grew by 1.1 percent (70 positions) over the month. Government employment also increased slightly, up by less than 0.1 percent (10 jobs). State government employment increased by 0.3 percent (20), approximately the same amount as local government decreased (down 0.3 percent, 20), but federal government employment increased by 0.7 percent (10).