Regional Analysis

by Amanda Rohrer- amanda.rohrer@state.mn.us
November  2010

Monthly analysis is based on unadjusted employment data.

Minneapolis-St. Paul Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)

Employment in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington MSA grew by 1.1 percent (18,370 jobs) over the month and by 1.3 percent (21,520) over the year. Over the month most of the gain was in local government employment (up 7.5 percent, 10,500), largely from greater-than-average seasonal growth in local government education (up 13.2 percent, 10,100) compared to a five-year average growth of 10.4 percent, 7,900. In the private sector, growth was concentrated in the service-providing industries. Professional and business services saw the largest numeric and percentage growth (up 2.7 percent, 6,850 jobs). While there were moderate, seasonally consistent losses in the mining, logging and construction and the manufacturing industries, the largest loss was in leisure and hospitality, which was down 1.7 percent (3,000) over the month.

Duluth-Superior MSA

Employment in the Duluth-Superior MSA grew by 0.6 percent (820) over the month, and by 1.4 percent (1,780) over the year. The private sector industries that saw change of greater than 1 percent over the month were professional and business services (up 1.9 percent, 150), leisure and hospitality (down 3.2 percent, 470), and other services (up 1.9 percent, 100). Government employment grew by 2.4 percent (630) over the month and by 0.5 percent (130) over the year. The monthly change was mostly caused by growth of 6.7 percent (525) in state government employment. That growth is seasonal growth in education employment, only slightly higher than the average October growth of 5.3 percent (400).

Rochester MSA

Employment in the Rochester MSA grew by 0.4 percent (470) over the month and by 1.7 percent (1,710) over the year. The greatest numeric monthly growth in a private sector industry was in trade, transportation and utilities (up 1.2 percent, 180), and the greatest percentage growth was in professional and business services (up 1.9 percent, 90). There were declines in leisure and hospitality (down 1.7 percent, 150) and in manufacturing (down 1.0 percent, 120). In government, employment grew by 2.5 percent (280) over the month and fell by 1 percent (120) over the year. The monthly change was almost exclusively driven by local government employment, which was up 3.3 percent (280) over the month.

St. Cloud MSA

Employment in the St. Cloud MSA grew by 1.7 percent (1,680) over the month and was flat over the year. The monthly growth was driven primarily by public sector employment gains, but over the year, the private sector fared better. Government employment grew by 9.4 percent (1,420) over the month but fell 1.1 percent (190) over the year. The strongest gain was in local government employment, an increase of 14.1 percent over the month (1,150). In the private sector, growth was 0.3 percent overall. Mining, logging and construction declined slightly (down 2.8 percent, 130) as did manufacturing (down 1.1 percent, 170). The largest percentage growth was 2.1 percent (150) in professional and business services.

Fargo-Moorhead MSA

Employment in the Fargo-Moorhead MSA grew by 0.7 percent (790) over the month and by 0.2 percent (180) over the year. Most of the monthly gains were evenly split between state government employment (up 3.4 percent, 240) and local government employment (up 3.1 percent, 270). Other industries that experienced significant changes were mining, logging and construction (down 3.2 percent, 230), educational and health services (up 2.8 percent, 510), and leisure and hospitality (down 2.5 percent, 330), all over-the-month changes.

Grand Forks MSA

Employment in the Grand Forks MSA grew by 2.3 percent (1,250) over the month and by 1.1 percent (600) over the year. The largest monthly gains were split between state government employment (up 5.9 percent, 430) and local government employment (up 7.8 percent, 400) and were seasonally consistent. In the private sector the largest gain was in leisure and hospitality (up 4.7 percent, 270). There was a slight decline in mining, logging and construction (down 2.7 percent, 80), but all other major industries were flat or saw minor increases in employment.

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