By Nick Dobbins
April 2022
The Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington MSA added 10,662 jobs (0.6%) over the month in March. This was the best proportional growth of any MSA primarily in Minnesota, tied with Rochester. Financial Activities added 2,238 jobs (1.5%), the largest real job growth of any supersector, while the largest proportional growth was in Other Services, which was up 1.6% (1,196 jobs). Seven of 10 published supersectors posted positive growth in March. The exceptions were Mining, Logging, and Construction (down 296 jobs, 0.4%), Professional and Business Services (down 99 jobs, 0%), and Government (down 685, 0.3%).
Over the year the metro area added 52,048 jobs (2.8%). Leisure and Hospitality added 22,011 jobs (16.5%), the largest real and proportional growth of any supersector. Manufacturing added 11,748 jobs (6.1%), with growth in Durable and Non-Durable Goods Manufacturing, and Other Services employment was up 5.2% or 3,662 jobs. Only one supersector, Financial Activities, lost jobs on the year (down 2,348 or 1.5%). The losses were entirely in Finance and Insurance (down 3,396 or 2.6%) as Real Estate and Rental and Leasing, the other major published component sector, added 1,048 jobs (3.9%).
The Duluth-Superior MSA added 433 jobs (0.3%) over the month in March, slightly worse than the state's overall mark of 0.5%. Mining, Logging, and Construction led the way in proportional growth, up 2.3% (210 jobs) while Leisure and Hospitality added the most real jobs, up 261 (1.9%). Government employers added 220 jobs (0.9%), with most of that coming at the State Government level (up 133 or 1.8%). Five supersectors lost jobs, with Educational and Health Services down 148 (0.5%) and Professional and Business Services down 86 (1.1%).
Over the year the Duluth area added 4,056 jobs (3.2%). Leisure and Hospitality led the way, adding 2,396 jobs or 21.3%. Mining, Logging, and Construction employment was up 10.5% (894 jobs). Educational and Health Services lost 719 jobs or 2.3%.
The Rochester MSA added 791 jobs or 0.6% over the month in March. This was the best proportional over-the-month growth of any MSA primarily in Minnesota, tied with Minneapolis-St. Paul. Eight of 10 published supersectors added jobs on the month, with the highest real and proportional growth coming in Leisure and Hospitality (up 264 jobs or 2.5%). Professional and Business Services had the largest real and proportional decline, down 52 jobs or 0.8%.
On an annual basis the Rochester area added 3,962 jobs or 3.3%. This was the highest proportional growth of any MSA primarily in Minnesota. Leisure and Hospitality added 1,672 jobs (18.7%), the highest real and proportional growth of any supersector. Mining, Logging, and Construction added 479 jobs or 10.9%. Three supersectors lost jobs. Manufacturing was off 212 jobs (2.2%), and Information was off by 112 jobs (8.6%).
The St. Cloud MSA lost 5 jobs (0%) over the month in March. It was the only MSA primarily in Minnesota to lose jobs on the month, although both Fargo-Moorhead and Grand Forks-East Grand Forks had larger proportional declines. Leisure and Hospitality added 137 jobs (1.8%), which was the largest real and proportional movement in either direction among supersectors, but six of the 10 published supersectors posted negative growth. The largest real decline came in Government (down 72 or 0.5%), and the largest proportional decline was in Professional and Business Services (down 0.6% or 48 jobs).
Over the yea, the St. Cloud MSA added 2,577 jobs (2.5%). All but one supersector posted positive annual growth - Educational and Health Services was down 233 jobs or 1.1%. Leisure and Hospitality added 906 jobs (13.4%), and Mining, Logging, and Construction added 753 jobs (12.1%).
The Mankato-North Mankato MSA added 192 jobs (0.3%) over the month in March. Goods producers added 198 jobs (2%) while service providers lost 6 jobs (0.0%).
On an annual basis the Mankato-North Mankato area added 1,261 jobs or 2.3%. This was the worst proportional over-the-year growth of any MSA primarily in Minnesota, although it was better than Fargo-Moorhead, which is primarily in North Dakota, at 1.3%. Private sector employers added 1,097 jobs (2.4%) while their public sector counterparts added 164 jobs (1.7%). Goods producers added 681 jobs (7.2%), and service providers added 580 (1.3%).
Employment in the Fargo-Moorhead MSA was down by 894 jobs (0.6%) in March. This was the worst over-the-month change of any MSA in the state and one of only two to post negative growth on the month along with Grand Forks-East Grand Forks. Trade, Transportation, and Utilities employers lost 265 jobs (0.9%), and Professional and Business Services employers lost 468 jobs (3%). The largest real and proportional growth was in Other Services, up 97 jobs or 2.0%.
Over the year the Fargo-Moorhead MSA added 1,890 jobs or 1.3%. This was the lowest annual proportional growth rate of any MSA in the state. Other Services employment was up 211 jobs (4.5%), and Professional and Business Services was up 834 jobs (5.8%). Financial Activities lost 511 jobs or 4.3%.
The Grand Forks-East Grand Forks MSA lost 131 jobs or 0.3% in March, the second-worst proportional growth of any MSA in the state after Fargo-Moorhead. Government employers lost 165 jobs (1.3%). Mining, Logging, and Construction employers added 63 jobs or 2.4%, the largest real and proportional growth of any supersector.
On the year the Grand Forks-East Grand Forks MSA added 1,533 jobs (3%). Leisure and Hospitality led the growth, up 14.7% or 757 jobs. Mining, Logging, and Construction employers added 229 jobs (9.5%), and Professional and Business Services added 536 jobs (16.1%).
