State Gains 5,200 Jobs in March
~ State unemployment below national rate at 4.7 percent ~
ST. PAUL –Minnesota employers added 5,200 jobs in March, according to figures released today by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.
Minnesota employers have added 17,200 jobs over the past year, a growth rate of 0.6 percent. During the same period, U.S. job growth was 0.4 percent.
The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate reached 4.7 percent, compared with a national unemployment rate of 5.1 percent in March.
“In the midst of challenging economic times, Minnesota employers have added 9,300 jobs since January,” said Dan McElroy, commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. “We continue to see strength in sectors of our economy like Education and Health Services, while others are holding steady.”
Six of the state’s major industrial sectors added jobs during the month. Education and Health Services led the way, adding 2,300 jobs; followed by Government, 1,400 jobs; Manufacturing, and Leisure and Hospitality, 1,300 jobs each; Other Services, 600 jobs; and Construction, 200 jobs.
Sectors losing jobs were Trade, Transportation and Utilities, down 1,200; Information, down 400; and National Resources and Mining, Financial Activities, and Professional and Business Services, each down 100 jobs.
Over the year, employment in the Twin Cities has grown 0.8 percent with 13,500 jobs added. The Duluth-Superior region grew 1.3 percent with 1,650 jobs, Rochester grew 1.9 percent with 1,940 jobs and the St. Cloud region grew 1.3 percent with 1,300 new jobs. These data are not seasonally adjusted.
For additional information on the March employment information, please visit www.positivelyminnesota.com.
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