Dec. 16 - State Unemployment Rate Steady at 7.1 Percent

ST. PAUL – Minnesota’s unemployment rate remained unchanged at a seasonally adjusted 7.1 percent in November, according to figures released today by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). The state remained well below the U.S. unemployment rate of 9.8 percent in November.

Employment declined by 5,100 jobs during the month, but that was partially offset by revised October figures that added another 1,900 jobs to the 14,100 job gains that were reported last month. So far this year, the state has added about 44,800 jobs, a growth rate of 1.7 percent compared with a U.S. pace of 0.6 percent.

“While we had hoped for stronger employment growth last month, Minnesota has consistently outperformed the national economy over the past year,” said DEED Commissioner Dan McElroy. “Manufacturing, in particular, has been a bright spot, adding 12,900 jobs in the state in the past 12 months.”

Sectors that gained jobs in November were government (up 3,500), manufacturing (up 1,800), and professional and business services (up 1,500). Logging and mining was unchanged during the month.

Job losses occurred last month in leisure and hospitality (down 4,000), financial activities (down 2,900), trade, transportation and utilities (down 2,100), other services (down 1,400), education and health services (down 700), construction (down 600) and information (down 200).

Along with manufacturing, other sectors that have added jobs in the past year were education and health services (up 13,400), professional and business services (up 12,200), leisure and hospitality (up 10,300), trade, transportation and utilities (up 5,800), information (up 2,900), and logging and mining (up 500).

Over-the-year job losses have occurred in construction (down 5,300), financial activities (down 3,500), other services (down 2,800) and government (down 1,700).

In the state Metropolitan Statistical Areas, job gains occurred in the past year in the Rochester MSA (up 1.6 percent), the Duluth-Superior MSA (up 0.9 percent), the Mankato MSA (up 0.9 percent) and the Minneapolis-St. Paul MSA (up 1.3 percent). The St. Cloud MSA declined 0.1 percent.

DEED also announced the results of its annual survey of Minnesota manufacturers in November. The random sample survey found that state manufacturers had a much better year in 2010 than in 2009. More than one-half of those surveyed saw increased orders and production, and more than one-third hired new workers. More than one-half expect orders and production to increase again in 2011, and more than one-third plan to increase hiring. A full report on the study can be found here.

A schedule of when DEED will release monthly employment and unemployment data in 2011 is available here.

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. Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/PositivelyMN.

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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 can be made available in alternative formats by contacting the DEED Communications Office at 651-259-7161.

Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
Communications Office
Phone 651/259-7149 or 1-800-657-3858 ∙ TTY 1-800-657-3973
www.PositivelyMinnesota.com
An equal opportunity employer and service provider.