by Nick Dobbins
December 2018
Employment in the Minneapolis - St. Paul MSA was down slightly, off by 3,573 (0.2 percent), slightly beating the statewide mark of -0.4 percent over-the-month growth. Leisure and Hospitality lost 5,735 jobs (3 percent), and Mining, Logging, and Construction lost 3,352 (3.7 percent) as conditions outside deteriorated to the point that much of the work of those two supersectors could no longer be done. On the flip side of that, Trade, Transportation, and Utilities employment was up by 8,575 (2.3 percent) as the holiday shopping season began ramping up. Retail Trade added 6,765 jobs (3.5 percent), Wholesale added 805 (0.8 percent), and Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities added 1,005 (1.3 percent). Over the year the metro area added 35,304 jobs (1.8 percent). As was the case statewide, for the first time in the history of the series the Educational and Health Services supersector lost jobs on an over-the-year basis, down 604 (0.2 percent), thanks in large part to a decline of 2,210 (3.6 percent) in Nursing and Residential Care Facilities. The largest proportional gains in the metro came in Mining, Logging, and Construction (up by 4.3 percent or 3550 jobs) while the largest gain in real jobs came in Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (up by 14,224 jobs or 3.9 percent). However, job growth was spread among the industries, as seven of the 10 published supersectors in the region added employment.
The Duluth - Superior MSA lost 97 jobs (0.1 percent) in November. While employment was down, this was the best over-the-month performance of any MSA that sits primarily in Minnesota, the Grand Forks - East Grand Forks MSA adding jobs on the month. Declines in the expected warm weather industries were balanced by gains of 436 (1.7 percent) in Trade, Transportation, and Utilities and 225 (0.8 percent) in Government. Over the year the Duluth MSA added 2,141 jobs (1.5 percent). The only supersectors to lose jobs were Information and Educational and Health Services. Leisure and Hospitality added 752 jobs (5.5 percent), the largest real and proportional job gains of any supersector.
Employment in the Rochester MSA was off by 1,377 (1.1 percent) in November, with most published supersectors shedding jobs. Manufacturers lost 399 jobs (3.7 percent), and Educational and Health Services lost 531 (1.1 percent). Over the year the Rochester area lost 648 jobs (0.5 percent). It was the only MSA in the state to lose jobs on the year. The decline was driven by the loss of 1,671 jobs (3.4 percent) in the regions’ largest supersector, Educational and Health Services. Trade, Transportation, and Utilities also shed jobs, off by 484 (2.6 percent), with most of the decline coming from Retail Trade. Leisure and Hospitality (up by 684 jobs or 6.4 percent) had the largest real and proportional job growth in the region.
Employment in the Saint Cloud MSA was off by 363 (0.3 percent) in November, with only three supersectors showing over-the-month growth. Mining, Logging, and Construction led the declines, off by 401 jobs (5.4 percent), while the lion’s share of the growth came from Trade, Transportation, and Utilities, up by 355 or 1.6 percent, virtually all coming from Retail Trade. Annually the St. Cloud MSA added 1,323 jobs (1.2 percent). Manufacturers added 690 jobs (4.5 percent), and Mining, Logging, and Construction added 318 (4.8 percent), while Professional and Business Services lost 111 jobs (1.2 percent), and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities lost 168 (0.7 percent).
The Mankato - North Mankato MSA lost 735 jobs (1.2 percent) in November. This was the largest proportional decline of any MSA in the state. Service providers lost 918 jobs (1.8 percent), completely negating the gain of 183 jobs (1.7 percent) among goods producers. Annually the region added 1,537 jobs (2.6 percent). This was the best over-the-year growth rate in the state. Service providers added 1,009 jobs (2.1 percent), and goods producers added 528 jobs (5 percent).
Employment in the Fargo - Moorhead MSA was down by 1,053 (0.7 percent) in November. Leisure and Hospitality lost 734 jobs (5.4 percent), the largest real and proportional declines. Educational and Health Services added 241 jobs (1 percent), the largest real and proportional increases. Annually the Fargo - Moorhead area added 402 jobs (0.3 percent). Educational and Health Services added 876 jobs (3.6 percent), and Mining, Logging, and Construction added 333 (3.7 percent).
The Grand Forks - East Grand Forks MSA added 178 jobs (0.3 percent) in November. It was the only MSA in Minnesota to add jobs on the month. Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (up 448 or 3.9 percent) led the increase, with most of that growth coming from Retail Trade (up 369, 5 percent). Over the year the MSA added 696 jobs (1.2 percent). Government employers shed 496 jobs (3.4 percent) in large part from the loss of 480 jobs (6.6 percent) from State Government. These declines were more than offset by growth in other areas, however, led by the addition of 586 jobs (10.1 percent) in Leisure and Hospitality and 250 jobs (5.7 percent) in Manufacturing.
