July 15 - Unemployment Rate Dips to 6.8 Percent

ST. PAUL – Minnesota’s unemployment rate declined 0.2 percentage points to a seasonally adjusted 6.8 percent in June, according to figures released today by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). The state unemployment rate remained well below the U.S. rate of 9.5 percent in June.

The state shed 3,700 jobs during the month, primarily U.S. census jobs that had been filled on a temporary basis.

Minnesota’s labor force participation rate fell 0.4 percentage points during the month to 72.2 percent, while the national rate declined from 65 percent to 64.7 percent. In June nearly 14,000 workers left the state’s labor force.

The number of jobs in Minnesota has grown 0.4 percent in the past 12 months, compared with a 0.1 percent decline nationally.

“Minnesota’s employment picture in June mirrored the nation’s, reflecting the uneven nature of economic recovery,” said DEED Commissioner Dan McElroy. “Still, Minnesota has gained more than 11,000 jobs in the past 12 months, representing the first year-over-year employment growth in the state since April 2008.”

Leisure and hospitality added 5,100 jobs in Minnesota in June, followed by financial activities, which grew by 2,300 jobs.

Job losses during the month were led by trade, transportation and utilities (down 3,200), primarily in retail. Losses in retail employment were consistent with other measures of declining consumer confidence and consumer spending.

Losses also occurred in other services (down 2,800), professional and business services (down 2,600), construction (down 900), manufacturing (down 900), information (down 200), education and health services (down 200), government (down 200), and logging and mining (down 100).

Over the past 12 months job gains occurred in leisure and hospitality (up 9,100), professional and business services (up 8,700), government (up 8,300), education and health services (up 7,100), and logging and mining (up 500).

The following sectors have lost jobs in the past year: construction (down 10,200), other services (down 8,100), financial activities (down 2,200), manufacturing (down 1,100), trade, transportation and utilities (down 1,000), and information (down 60).

In the state Metropolitan Statistical Areas, job gains occurred in the past year in the St. Cloud MSA (up 0.9 percent), the Rochester MSA (up 0.9 percent) and the Duluth-Superior MSA (up 0.1 percent). Over-the-year job losses occurred in the Minneapolis-St. Paul MSA (down 0.1 percent) and the Mankato MSA (down 1.5 percent).

DEED is the state’s principal economic development agency, promoting business recruitment, expansion and retention, workforce development, international trade and community development. For more details about the agency and our services, visit us at www.PositivelyMinnesota.com.

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• All labor force data are subject to revision.
• The unemployment rate is the percentage of people actively seeking work compared with those in the labor force (employed plus unemployed).

Upon request, the information in this news release is available in an alternative format such as Braille, large print, audiotape or computer disk.

Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
Communications Office
Phone 651/259-7161 or 1-800-657-3858 ∙ TTY 1-800-657-3973
www.PositivelyMinnesota.com