By Nick Dobbins
April 2024
The Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington MSA added 2,544 jobs or 0.1% over the month in March. Supersectors were split between job growth and job loss, with five of 10 adding jobs and the other five shedding jobs. The largest real and proportional growth came in Leisure and Hospitality, which added 3,297 jobs or 1.9%. Mining, Logging, and Construction added 1,407 jobs (2%) with positive growth in all published construction components, and Educational and Health Services added 1,699 jobs (0.5%) in spite of the loss of 786 jobs (1.6%) in Educational Services, as Health Care and Social Assistance added 2,485 jobs (0.8%). Employment in Manufacturing was off by 1,469 jobs or 0.7%, with declines in every published component sector. Professional and Business Services employers lost 1,482 jobs (0.5%), and Other Services lost 590 jobs or 0.8%, the largest proportional decline of any supersector in the area.
Over the year the metro area added 22,337 jobs or 1.2%. This was an improvement over February's 1% growth in the area. Five supersectors added jobs, and five lost jobs on the year. Both goods producing supersectors posted negative growth, Mining, Logging, and Construction was off by 5,657 or 7.2%, the largest proportional decline of any supersector, due in large part to the loss of 4,694 jobs (8.8%) among Specialty Trade Contractors. The largest real job loss came in Professional and Business Services, which shed 11,842 jobs (3.9%). The largest real and proportional growth came in Government, which added 21,195 jobs or 8.6%, with the lion's share of that growth coming at the Local Government level (up 18,244 or 11.6%). Educational and Health Services added 16,048 jobs (4.6%) on the year, with that growth driven by Health Care and Social Assistance (up 17,472 or 5.8%), as Educational Services lost 1,424 jobs (2.9%).
Employment in the Duluth-Superior MSA was up by 430 (0.3%) over the month in March, roughly keeping pace with the statewide growth. Six of 10 published supersectors added jobs, with the largest real and proportional growth coming in Leisure and Hospitality (up 205 jobs or 1.5%). Government employers added 172 jobs (0.7%) with much of that growth coming at the Local Government level (up 151 or 1%). The largest real and proportional declines in the area came in Mining, Logging, and Construction, which shed 126 jobs or 1.5%. Other supersectors to post negative monthly growth were Manufacturing, Information, and Financial Activities.
Over the year Duluth-area businesses added 159 jobs or 0.1%. This was the lowest proportional annual growth of any MSA in Minnesota. Trade, Transportation, and Utilities added 779 jobs (3.3%) with growth in all three major component sectors. Educational and Health Services added 558 jobs (1.8%), Leisure and Hospitality added 435 jobs (3.3%), and Other Services added 431 jobs (7.2%). The largest proportional growth in either direction was the loss of 9.2% (846 jobs) from Mining, Logging, and Construction, and the largest real job movement in either direction was the loss of 1,113 jobs (4.3%) in Government. The public sector decline was caused in large part by the loss of 958 jobs (5.7%) at the Local Government level.
The Rochester MSA added 347 jobs (0.3%) in March, keeping pace with statewide monthly growth. The largest real and proportional employment increase came in Leisure and Hospitality, which added 281 jobs or 2.6%. Overall, six of 10 published supersectors added jobs in March. The largest real job loss came in Trade, Transportation, and Utilities, which shed 52 jobs (0.3%) with declines in Retail Trade and Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities. Wholesale Trade added 16 jobs, 0.6%. The largest proportional decline was in Financial Activities, down 0.8% (23 jobs).
Over the year the Rochester area added 3,984 jobs or 3.3%. This was the largest proportional growth of any MSA primarily in Minnesota. Growth was driven by the Educational and Health Services supersector, which added 3,776 jobs or 7.1%, the largest real and proportional movement in either direction for a supersector. Overall, five supersectors added jobs, and five lost jobs. Notable declines included a loss of 175 (1.9%) in Manufacturing, a loss of 167 (2.5%) in Professional and Business Services, and a decline of 3.9% (44 jobs) in Information.
The St. Cloud MSA added 388 jobs (0.4%) over the month of March. The largest real job growth came in Trade, Transportation, and Utilities, which added 180 jobs (0.8%) in large part from the addition of 161 jobs (1.3%) in Retail Trade. The largest proportional growth was in Leisure and Hospitality, which was up 1.8% (138 jobs). Five supersectors lost jobs on the month, with notable declines in Government (down 46 or 0.3%), Financial Activities (down 29 jobs or 0.6%), and Manufacturing (down 32 or 0.2%).
Over the year the St. Cloud MSA added 1,347 jobs or 1.3%. Seven of 10 published supersectors added jobs on the year. Educational and Health Services added 880 jobs (4%), the largest real job growth of any supersector, while the largest proportional growth came in Mining, Logging, and Construction (up 5.5% or 370 jobs). Trade, Transportation, and Utilities added 843 jobs (3.9%) with growth in all three published component sectors. Manufacturing had the largest real job loss, off by 486 (3.3%). Professional and Business Services lost 356 jobs (4.8%), and Leisure and Hospitality lost 291 jobs (3.6%).
The Mankato-North Mankato MSA added 176 jobs (0.3%) in March. Service providers added 196 jobs (0.4%) while goods producers lost 20 jobs (0.2%). Public sector employers added 154 jobs (1.5%) while private sector employment was mostly flat, adding 20 jobs or 0.0%.
Over the year the Mankato-North Mankato MSA added 362 jobs (0.6%). Every published series added jobs on the year. Service providers added 302 jobs (0.6%), and goods producers added 60 jobs (0.6%). Private sector employers added 191 jobs (0.4%), and public sector employers added 171 jobs (1.7%).
The Fargo-Moorhead MSA added 300 jobs (0.3%) over the month in March. Mining, Logging, and Construction added 248 jobs or 2.7%, which was the largest real and proportional growth of any MSA in the area. Trade, Transportation, and Utilities added 219 jobs (0.7%) in large part from the addition of 187 jobs (1.3%) in Retail Trade. The largest real and proportional decline in the MSA came in Leisure and Hospitality, which was off by 262 jobs, or 1.8%.
Over the year the Fargo-Moorhead area added 1,707 jobs, or 1.1%. Trade, Transportation, and Utilities added 1,045 jobs (3.4%) with the Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities component up 503 or 6.7%. Educational and Health Services employment was up 649 or 2.3%, and Government employers added 689 jobs or 3.3%. The largest losses came in Information (down 10.8% or 285 jobs) and Professional and Business Services (off by 567 jobs or 3.8%).
The Grand Forks-East Grand Forks MSA lost 19 jobs (0.0%) over the month. It was the only MSA in Minnesota to lose jobs in March. Government employment was off by 74 (0.5%), with most of that decline coming at the Local Government level (down 64 or 0.9%). Professional and Business Services lost 28 jobs or 0.8%. The largest real and proportional monthly growth was in Mining, Logging, and Construction, which added 73 jobs or 2.7%.
Over the year the Grand Forks-East Grand Forks MSA added 905 jobs or 1.7%. Government employers added 652 jobs (4.9%), Manufacturing added 218 jobs (5.3%), and Mining, Logging, and Construction added 160 jobs (6.1%). The largest real and proportional declines came in Leisure and Hospitality, which lost 206 jobs or 3.7%.
