The MN unemployment rate rose in August, but there’s no need to worry

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The unemployment rate in Minnesota rose 0.1% in August, to sit now at 3.8% across the state.

Who is losing jobs? The leisure and hospitality industry is the biggest contributor to the rise in unemployment, down 6,400 jobs. Education and health services (down 5,300) and construction (down 400), as well as 800 jobs lost in other various fields, also contributed to the state’s total loss of 6,600 jobs in August.

These numbers come courtesy of DEED (Minnesota’s Department of Employments and Economic Development).

But there’s no reason to worry. At least not yet. Minnesota’s paltry 3.8% is still considerably lower than the national average of 4.4%. Plus, the past 12 months as a whole are still looking like a win: Minnesota added nearly 50,000 jobs over the past year.

Who’s feeling good? Jobs in trade, transportation, and utilities saw a rise of 3,200. Manufacturing, professional/business services, and government services all added 800 jobs as well.

The Minneapolis-St. Paul metro jobs market grew 2.3 percent over the last year, and the other major economic hubs (Duluth-Superior, Rochester, Mankato, and St. Cloud) around the state saw increases as well, continuing Minnesota’s now-longstanding trend of economic dominance.