Minnesota gained 1,300 seasonally adjusted jobs in March while the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 3.2% according to figures released today by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). The U.S. unemployment rate was 3.8%.
Minnesota total over-the-year growth rebounded back into positive territory in March as employment was up 7,605 or 0.3% over last March.
February’s seasonally adjusted job loss was reduced through revisions by 1,000 jobs to 7,800 jobs lost.
“Unemployment insurance claims remained steady last month – in spite of the rising unemployment rate,” said DEED Commissioner Steve Grove. “This suggests that Minnesotans may be looking for better employment opportunities.”
Six of eleven major industry sectors lost jobs during the month. With manufacturing showing the largest overall loss of 1,100 jobs and construction showing the largest gain with 2,800 job gained. All other sectors changed up or down less than 1,000 jobs, including leisure and hospitality (up 600), financial activities (down 600), education and health care (down 600), professional and business services (down 400), information (down 400), trade, transportation and utilities (up 300), mining and logging (up 100) and government (down 100).
Three out of the five Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) had over-the-year growth with St. Cloud MSA leading at 1.6% growth followed by Rochester MSA (up 1.3%) and Mankato MSA (up 0.2%). Minneapolis-St. Paul MSA remained stable while Duluth-Superior MSA was down 0.5%.
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 its services, visit the https://mn.gov/deed/ or follow DEED on Twitter.