by Nick Dobbins
August 2015
Monthly analysis is based on unadjusted employment data.
Employment in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington MSA was down sharply in July as the area lost 13,360 jobs (0.7 percent). However, it is worth noting that job losses on this scale are a regular occurrence in July, as many schools shut down for the summer during this time. As such, it is not surprising that Government led all supersectors in losses, down 18,071 (7.2 percent). Other significant job losers included Educational and Health Services (down 1,555, 0.5 percent), Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (down 1,813, 0.5 percent), and Other Services (down 786 or 1 percent). The largest numerical gains came in Professional and Business Services, which was up 3,340 jobs (1.1 percent). Over the year, employment in the metro was up by 40,564 (2.1 percent). Professional and Business Services still had the most employment growth, up 12,520 or 4.1 percent. Some interesting movement was taking place at the component sector level in Trade, Transportation, and Utilities, as the supersector added 931 jobs (0.3 percent). This belied more dramatic movements in component sectors, as a loss of 2,308 jobs (2.4 percent) in Wholesale Trade was hidden by gains of 2,150 (1.2 percent) and 1,089 (1.7 percent) in Retail Trade and Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities, respectively.
The Duluth-Superior MSA lost 2,367 jobs (1.7 percent) in July. As expected, the bulk of that loss came in Government (down 2,174 or 8.2 percent), with nearly all of that coming from Local Government (down 1,948 or 11.2 percent). The only other supersectors with movement of 1 percent or more were Mining, Logging, and Construction (down 149 jobs or 1.6 percent) and Leisure and Hospitality (up 201 jobs or 1.3 percent). For the year, employment in Duluth remained up, adding 1,797 jobs (1.3 percent) over July 2014. While gains were spread among numerous supersectors, Educational and Health Services had by far the largest numerical increase, up 1,228 jobs (4.1 percent). The largest proportional increase came in Other Services, which added 300 jobs (4.9 percent). Significant losses occurred in Mining, Logging, and Construction, which was down 738 or 7.3 percent.
The Rochester MSA lost 295 jobs (0.3 percent) in July. Trade, Transportation, and Utilities lost 259 jobs (1.4 percent), while Government employers shed 684 jobs (5.3 percent). Manufacturing added 279 jobs (2.5 percent), and Leisure and Hospitality added 110 (1 percent). Over the year, Rochester added 129 jobs (0.1 percent). The gain put them back into the black following June's drop. The largest numerical gain came in Educational and Health Services, which added 386 jobs (0.9 percent), while the largest proportional gains came in Information (up 131, 6.6 percent). Professional and Business Services continues to be a drag on Rochester's over-the-year employment, as it has had annual losses of greater than 2 percent since January and came in with 338 (5.6 percent) fewer jobs than in July of 2014.
Employment in the St. Cloud MSA was off by 1,045 (1 percent) in July. Government (down 1,332, 9 percent) and Professional and Business Services (down 151, 1.9 percent) were the only supersectors to lose jobs, but they both lost more jobs individually than any other single supersector gained. The largest numerical and proportional growth came in Mining, Logging, and Construction, which added 144 jobs (2.3 percent). Annually, St. Cloud added 432 jobs (0.4 percent), with much of the credit going to Educational and Health Services, which added 1,373 (6.8 percent). Significant annual losses occurred in Professional and Business Services (down 562 or 6.7 percent) and Mining, Logging, and Construction (down 324, 4.8 percent), among others.
Employment in the Mankato-North Mankato MSA was off in July, down 1,786 or 3.2 percent. Government dropped 1,666 jobs (17.4 percent) while private employment was down 180 (0.5 percent). Employment remained up on the year, however, with Mankato supporting 518 jobs (1 percent) more than in July of 2014. That gain was spread among sectors, as Private and Government employers (up 316 or 0.7 percent and 202 or 2.6 percent, respectively) saw job growth, as did Goods Producers and Service Providers (up 111 or 1.1 percent, and 407 or 0.9 percent, respectively).
The Fargo-Moorhead MSA lost 1,768 jobs (1.3 percent) in July. Government employment lost 2,198 jobs (12.3 percent), with the Local Government sector shedding 2,069 jobs (19.9 percent). Mining, Logging, and Construction added the most jobs on the month, up 178 or 1.9 percent. Over the year, Fargo-Moorhead added 2,230 jobs (1.6 percent). Leisure and Hospitality continued to lead the MSA in annual growth, up 1,512 (10.9 percent) over July of 2014. Professional and Business Services lost more jobs than any other supersector, down 833 or 5 percent.
Employment in the Grand Forks-East Grand Forks MSA was down in July, shedding 1,909 jobs (3.3 percent). While Government employers led the way with a loss of 1,815 (13 percent), multiple supersectors had smaller losses, including Manufacturing (down 51 or 1.3 percent), Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (down 123 or .9 percent) and Leisure and Hospitality (down 102 or 1.7 percent). Employment in the MSA was up by 1,264 (2.3 percent) for the year, with the largest gain coming in Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (up 956 or 7.8 percent).
