By Nick Dobbins
July 2020
Monthly analysis is based on unadjusted employment data.
The Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington MSA added 7,473 jobs (0.4%) in July, slightly outperforming the state’s 0.3% over-the-month increase. While increases were relatively small, they came in a month that traditionally sees negative job growth, suggesting that improvements in employment overcame the usual seasonal pressures that drive growth down this time of year. July’s growth came primarily in Leisure and Hospitality (up 15,481 or 11.5%). Other Services added 2,434 jobs (up 3.4%), and Mining, Logging, and Construction added 1,438 (1.7%). The largest declines, in both real and proportional terms, came in Government, which shed 15,723 jobs (6.8%), roughly in line with the usual July growth. Over the year the metro area lost 178,932 jobs (8.7%). This was an improvement over June’s 9.5% over-the-year decline. Every supersector still lost jobs, however, with declines of over 10% in Leisure and Hospitality (down 52,327 or 25.9%), Information (down 4,830 or 13.4%), and Mining, Logging, and Construction (down 9,835 or 10.3%). The best over-the-year performance came in Financial Activities, which was off by 3.7% or 5,907 jobs.
The Duluth-Superior MSA lost 689 jobs (0.6%) in July. It was the worst over-the-month job loss of any MSA that is primarily in Minnesota. Employment in the Grand Forks-East Grand Forks MSA was down 1.9%. The declines were driven primarily by the loss of 2,059 jobs (8.7%) in Government. No other supersector lost more than 50 jobs. Leisure and Hospitality was up by 528 (5.1%), and Other Services added 120 jobs (2.1%). Seven of 10 published supersectors had positive job growth on the month. Over the year the Duluth area lost 12,642 jobs (9.3%). This was the worst over-the-year job loss of any MSA in the state. Leisure and Hospitality was down by 5,558 jobs (33.6%). Mining, Logging, and Construction was down 1,075 or 10.6% compared to a 6.5% decline in the same supersector statewide. The strongest-performing industry group in the area was Professional and Business Services, which was off by 184 jobs or 2.4%.
The Rochester MSA added 384 jobs (0.3%) in July. Educational and Health Services added 746 jobs (1.6%), and Leisure and Hospitality added 163 (1.9%). The largest real and proportional declines came in Professional and Business Services, which was off by 339 jobs or 6.4%. Government employers lost 221 jobs (1.7%). Over the year the Rochester MSA lost 10,046 jobs (8%), slightly better than the state’s 8.5% over-the-year decline. Leisure and Hospitality saw the largest proportional decline, down 3,149 jobs or 26%. Educational and Health Services had the largest real over-the year job loss, down 5,066 (9.7%). Two supersectors in Rochester had positive annual growth, with Mining, Logging, and Construction adding 71 jobs (1.3%) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities adding 221 (1.3%) on the strength of 315 additional jobs (2.7%) in Retail Trade.
The St. Cloud MSA lost 271 jobs (0.3%) in July. Government employers shed 1,614 jobs (10.9%), driving the decline. The only other supersector with negative monthly growth (Information) lost 8 jobs. Leisure and Hospitality added 162 jobs (4.7%), and Other Services added 241 (3.9%). Educational and Health Services had the largest real job growth, adding 315 jobs (1.6%). On the year the St. Cloud area lost 3,433 jobs (3.1%). Leisure and Hospitality had the largest declines, off by 1,939 jobs, or 23.1%. The next largest proportional declines came in Information, where employment was off by 18.9% (273 jobs).
The Mankato-North Mankato MSA added 576 jobs (1%). It was the best proportional over-the-month job growth of any MSA in the state. Private sector employers added 736 jobs (1.6%), making up for the loss of 160 jobs (1.7%) among public sector employers. Over the year, the MSA lost 781 jobs (1.4%). This was the best over-the-year performance of any MSA in the state. Government employers added 1,128 jobs (14.2%) while their private sector counterparts lost 1,909 (3.9%).
The Fargo-Moorhead MSA lost 499 jobs (0.4%) in July. Leisure and Hospitality added 1,622 jobs (14.8%), but Government employers lost 1,987 jobs (11.5%). Professional and Business Services added 313 jobs (2.2%), the next largest movement in both real and proportional terms. Over the year the MSA lost 6,265 jobs (4.4%). The only supersector to add jobs was Professional and Business Services (up 603 or 4.2%). Trade, Transportation, and Utilities was down by 1,753 or 5.8%, and Government lost 1,167 jobs (7.1%)
The Grand Forks-East Grand Forks MSA lost 987 jobs (1.9%) in July. It was the worst proportional over-the-month job loss of any MSA in the state. While only two of the 10 published supersectors lost jobs, the largest movement of any supersector came in Government, where employment was off by 1,607 (13.6%). The largest increase, in real and proportional terms, came in Manufacturing, which added 221 jobs (4.8%). Annually the MSA lost 2,761 jobs (5.2%). The largest proportional declines came in Information (down 14% or 69 jobs) and Professional and Business Services (down 12% or 406 jobs). The largest real and proportional increase came in Manufacturing, which added 365 jobs or 8.1.
