Regional Analysis

by Jerry Brown - jerry.brown@state.mn.us
July 2010

Monthly analysis is based on unadjusted employment data.

Minneapolis-St. Paul Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)

Employment for the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington MSA increased 0.8 percent over the month of June, up 13,690 jobs. This growth is slightly above the 0.7 percent average gain posted the five years prior to 2009. Over the year, the MSA showed a loss of 0.1 percent, a significant improvement from the -1.0 percent over-the-year loss in May. Leisure and hospitality saw much stronger than normal growth, up 4.9 percent over the month, well above the norm of 2.8 percent. This reflected strong growth in arts, entertainment, and recreation as well as food services and drinking places. Financial activities also posted a strong month gaining 1.3 percent, well above usual growth. More than 2,000 temporary Census jobs were eliminated in June, but slow seasonal layoffs in public education mitigated this loss in government. Three of 11 supersectors showed annual gains with the largest in leisure and hospitality (+8,930) and in professional and business services (+8,460). The largest declines were in mining, logging and construction (-8,450) and in trade, transportation, and utilities (-7,290).

Duluth-Superior MSA

Duluth-Superior experienced a loss of 0.1 percent for June, a month when there is usually an increase of about 0.8 percent. The weaker results were in large part from a loss of about 500 temporary Census workers in federal government. Monthly gains in trade, transportation, and utilities were also substantially below usual with an increase of 0.4 percent. The rate of annual growth was 0.1 percent, the same rate of change posted in May. Educational and health services (+950), professional and business services (+230) and leisure and hospitality (+200) showed substantial growth. Other services and trade, transportation, and utilities both showed losses of about 370 over the past year.

Rochester MSA

Employment increased 1 percent over the month of June for the Rochester MSA, substantially below a usual rate of growth closer to 2 percent. Areas showing growth well below usual levels included trade, transportation, and utilities where an increase of 0.2 is the slowest growth since 2001, largely because of retail trade. Professional and business services, educational and health services, and other services were also off substantially compared to past years. On an annual basis the supersector added more than 900 jobs. There were five supersectors showing annual increases. Educational and health services added 500 jobs, followed by government (+430), manufacturing (+360), leisure and hospitality (+240) and professional and business services (+120). Most losses were under 100 except a decline of 380 in mining, logging, and construction and 200 in other services.

St. Cloud MSA

St. Cloud experienced a monthly job decline of 1.7 percent, a loss very close to average for June. Declines in Census workers led to a loss of 120 in federal government. Over the past year St. Cloud added 880 jobs. Nearly 500 jobs were added in government including 390 in local government and about 200 in federal government. Leisure and hospitality was up 340 in part from a strong June increase. Retail trade (+340), professional and business services (+206), and educational and health services (+180) were other areas of substantial growth. Major losses were present in manufacturing (-300), other services (-170), and mining, logging, and construction (-140).

Fargo-Moorhead MSA

Employment showed a loss of 1.3 percent in Fargo-Moorhead over the month of June. This rate of loss was a bit higher than the average for the previous five years because of weaknesses in manufacturing, in professional and business services, and in mining, logging,and construction. The rate of annual growth was -0.1 percent, a slight improvement. Government had the highest rate of growth boosted by Census hiring. Mining, logging, and construction showed the largest decline at -10 percent, followed by manufacturing, -2.6 percent, and retail trade at -2.3 percent.

Grand Forks MSA

Grand Forks saw a monthly loss of 1.2 percent, a bit less decline than is usual for the month. The rate of over-the-year growth was 1.3 percent, up from 0.6 percent in May. Professional and business services showed much stronger than usual monthly growth by increasing 1.7 percent. Government experienced slower than normal seasonal declines dropping 4.8 percent rather than the norm of 7 percent. This was due to state government. Areas with the largest annual gains included government (+3.9 percent), mining, logging, and construction (+4.4 percent), and manufacturing (+2.1 percent).

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