Regional Analysis

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

Monthly analysis is based on unadjusted employment data.

Minneapolis-St. Paul Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)

Employment in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington MSA grew 0.3 percent (5,600) over the month of June, but fell 3.7 percent (67,100) over the year. Private-sector employment is driving both of these trends, having grown more over the month (up 0.4 percent, 6,400) and fallen more over the year (down 4.5 percent, 69,900). Monthly gains in manufacturing of 0.7 percent (1,240) were slightly below the average of 1.1 percent (2,200), as was the 0.4 percent gain (1,100) in trade, transportation, and utilities compared to an average of 0.5 percent, 1,700. Service-sector gains were concentrated in professional and business services (up 0.7 percent, 1,700) and in leisure and hospitality, which grew 1.6 percent (2,700). Educational and health services declined seasonally 1.2 percent (3,100). Federal government declined 2.7 percent (600). State government employment fell by a seasonal 4.2 percent (3,000), and local government grew 1.8 percent (2,900).

Duluth-Superior MSA

Employment in the Duluth-Superior MSA declined 0.3 percent (330) over the month and 4.1 percent (5,560) over the year. Monthly losses were concentrated in the public sector, with declines of 9.2 percent (170) and 7.7 percent (590) in federal and state government respectively. Monthly public-sector losses were counter-balanced by an overall gain of 0.1 percent (140) in the private sector. Despite the overall gains, there were still substantial atypical losses in mining and logging (down 6.8 percent, 450) and fairly normal seasonal losses in educational and health services (down 1.3 percent, 380). Trade, transportation, and utilities grew 1 percent (240), almost up to the June average of 1.1 percent (300). Most other industries saw moderate gains of somewhat less strength than is normal for June.

Rochester MSA

Employment in Rochester grew 1.2 percent (1,230) over the month of June. State and local government employment followed typical June growth patterns, increasing 4.6 percent (70) and 2.9 percent (250) respectively. Trade, transportation, and utilities, which grew 1.1 percent (170) over the month, was most in line with its trend, but was still down 1.8 percent (280) over the year. Leisure and hospitality was up 2.7 percent (250), slightly higher than its June average of 1.8 percent (170), while mining and logging (up 3.5 percent, 134), manufacturing (up 0.9 percent, 100), professional and business services (up 0.9 percent, 40), and educational and health services (up 0.5 percent, 210) all increased by less than half their June average. Over the year only educational and health services saw a gain (3 percent, 1,250).

St. Cloud MSA

Employment in St. Cloud declined 1.7 percent (1,760) over the month of June. Over the year, employment declined 1.8 percent (1,880). Over the month, the public sector bore the brunt of the decline, falling 8.2 percent (1,350). While all government sectors experienced decline, the bulk came from state government, which was down 20.9 percent (1,130), slightly less than the average seasonal June decline of 28.3 percent (1,270). By contrast, private-sector employment fell only 0.5 percent (410) over the month. The bulk of private-sector losses was in educational and health services, which declined 4.3 percent (770) over the month. Leisure and hospitality also declined 0.7 percent (70) over the month, in line with the typical June change, while all other industries saw moderate over-the-month increases but still less growth than average for the month.

Fargo-Moorhead MSA

Employment in the Fargo-Moorhead MSA fell 1.1 percent (1,400) over the month of June. Despite the monthly decline, employment grew 0.8 percent (1,000) over the year. Over the month, private-sector employment fared better, growing 0.8 percent (830), but over the year it declined 0.5 percent (500). Driving the monthly private-sector change were mining, logging, and construction, which grew 10.6 percent (800) and professional and business services, which grew 1.9 percent (260). Also in the private sector, employment in educational and health services was down 1.7 percent (300) over the month. Government employment declined 11.4 percent (2,220) over the month, but grew 9.4 percent (1,480) over the year. Monthly declines occurred in all levels of government, but most notably in state government employment, where the over-the-month decline was 21.3 percent (1,800).

Grand Forks MSA

Employment in Grand Forks declined 0.3 percent (180) over the month, but was still 1.8 percent (940) higher than the previous June. The private sector grew 0.9 percent (350) over the month and 0.7 percent (280) over the year. Most of the growth occurred in mining, logging, and construction employment, which increased 12 percent (300) over the month. Trade, transportation, and utilities was also up more than 80 over the month (0.8 percent), while leisure and hospitality counterbalanced that growth with a decline of 1.3 percent (80). Government employment declined by 3.8 percent (530) over the month but was still up 5.2 percent (660) over the year. The majority of this decline was split between state government employment (down 4 percent, 280) and local government (down 3.4 percent, 190).