Regional Analysis

by Amanda Rohrer
December 2009

Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomingon Metropolitan Statistical Area

Employment in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington MSA increased almost 0.2 percent (2,660) over the month, but declined 3 percent (52,800) over the year. Government employment drove the overall gains, increasing 1.1 percent (2,540). Local government employment increased 1.9 percent (2,760) over the month. Mining, logging, and construction fell 3 percent (1,770) over the month. Business services fell 0.5 percent (1,180), and leisure and hospitality fell 2.3 percent (3,650). Employment in trade, transportation, and utilities grew 1.8 percent (5,710) in line with seasonal trends.

Duluth-Superior MSA

Employment in the Duluth-Superior MSA declined 0.5 percent (620) over the month and 3.8 percent (5,040) over the year. The losses were proportionately split between the public and private sectors. Private employment declined 0.5 percent (500) over the month, while government employment declined 0.4 percent (120) over the month. The government losses were from federal and state government, while local government employment saw a slight gain of 0.3 percent (almost 50). Private-sector industries that were most affected were mining, logging, and construction, which fell 6.1 percent (420) over the month, and leisure and hospitality, which fell 3.7 percent (480). Employment in trade, transportation, and utilities increased seasonally by 1.7 percent (410) for the month of November.

Rochester MSA

Employment in the Rochester MSA grew by almost 0.1 percent (60) over the month but declined 0.6 percent (680) over the year. Monthly losses in mining, logging, and construction (down 3.7 percent, 140), manufacturing (down 0.9 percent, nearly 100), and leisure and hospitality (down 2.3 percent, 210) were balanced by seasonal gains in trade, transportation, and utilities (2.1 percent, 323), educational and health services (up 0.4 percent, 170), and government employment (up 1.1 percent, 125). The government gains were entirely from local government, which increased 1.8 percent (170), while state government employment dropped 2.3 percent (30) over the month.

St. Cloud MSA

Employment in the St. Cloud MSA declined less than 0.1 percent (70) over the month of November, but was down by 3.6 percent (3,680) over the year. Goods-producing industries saw the largest declines. Mining, logging, and construction fell 4.3 percent over the month (190), and manufacturing fell 0.9 percent (140). Employment in leisure and hospitality also declined 3.2 percent (nearly 300) over the month, but these losses were partially counterbalanced by a gain of 1.8 percent (370) in trade, transportation, and utilities, which was driven by seasonal growth in retail trade. Employment in other private-sector industries was flat, while government employment grew 1.7 percent over the month (260) although it was still down 5.4 percent (890) over the year. Monthly government employment gains were mostly split between state government employment (up 3.4 percent, 170) and local government employment (up 1.4 percent, 110).

Fargo-Moorhead MSA

Employment in the Fargo-Moorhead MSA declined 0.3 percent (320) over the month and 1.3 percent (1,600) over the year. Both government and private-sector employment saw slight declines over the month, but over the year private employment was down 1.8 percent (2,000), while government employment was up 2 percent (210). The industries that were most affected over the month were mining, logging, and construction (down 3.8 percent, 300), retail trade (up 2 percent, 300) and leisure and hospitality (down 1.6 percent, 210).

Grand Forks MSA

Employment in the Grand Forks MSA was flat for the month of November, but declined 1.5 percent (810) over the year. Overall, both the private-sector and government employment saw little change over the month. The most substantial changes in individual industries were in mining, logging, and construction, which declined 3.9 percent over the month (100) and trade, transportation, and utilities, which went up 1.5 percent (170). Most of that change was driven by growth in retail trade, which was up 2.7 percent (190) over the month. All other industries saw monthly changes of less than 1 percent.

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