By Nick Dobbins
December 2023
The Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington MSA added 3,975 jobs (0.2%) over the month of November, on a not-seasonally-adjusted basis. This was slightly better than the state's overall flat growth. The largest real and proportional job growth came in Trade, Transportation, and Utilities, which added 9,105 jobs (2.6%), with positive growth in all three component sectors. Retail Trade employers added 6,507 jobs or 3.6%. Government employers added 5,566 jobs (2.2%) with most of that growth coming at the Local Government level, which was up 4,597 jobs or 2.7%. The largest declines came in two heavily seasonal supersectors, as Mining, Logging, and Construction was off by 5,147 jobs (5.5%), and Leisure and Hospitality was off by 6,334 or 3.3%. Overall, five of 10 published supersectors added jobs on the month, and five lost jobs.
Over the year the metro area added 29,793 jobs or 1.5%, with five supersectors adding jobs and five shedding jobs. Educational and Health Services was up 16,693 jobs or 4.8%, the largest real and proportional growth of any supersector. The lion's share of that growth came in Health Care and Social Assistance, which was up 16,589 jobs or 5.5%. Government employers added 11,900 jobs (4.7%), with positive growth at all three levels. Trade, Transportation, and Utilities was up 9,005 or 2.6%. The largest proportional job loss came in Financial Activities, which was down 4.3% (6,316 jobs) with declines in every published component. The largest real job loss was in Professional and Business Services, which was down 8,328 (2.7%). Administrative and Support Services lost 4,741 jobs (4.7%), caused primarily by the loss of 4,439 jobs (9.3%) in Employment Services.
The Duluth-Superior MSA lost 927 jobs (0.7%) in November, with five of 10 published supersectors losing employment. Mining, Logging, and Construction was off by 652 (6.1%), Government employers lost 695 jobs (2.7%), with Local Government driving the decline (off 754 or 4.6%). Leisure and Hospitality, which is highly seasonal, lost 302 jobs (2.2%). Trade, Transportation, and Utilities added 373 jobs (1.5%) with positive growth in all published component sectors. Educational and Health Services added 346 jobs (1.1%).
Over the year the Duluth area added 724 jobs or 0.5%. The largest real job growth came in Trade, Transportation, and Utilities, which was up 1,150 or 4.7%. Retail Trade drove the growth, up 1,039, or 7%. The largest proportional annual growth was in Other Services, which was up 6.6% or 383 jobs. The largest real and proportional job losses in the Duluth area came in Leisure and Hospitality, which was off by 483 or 3.5%. Mining, Logging, and Construction was down 3.1% (321 jobs), and Government employers shed 337 jobs (1.3%).
The Rochester MSA added 355 jobs or 0.3%, over the month in November. This was the highest proportional growth of any MSA primarily in Minnesota although Fargo-Moorhead, which is primarily in North Dakota, posted 0.5% growth. The largest real and proportional growth in the area came in the Trade, Transportation, and Utilities supersector, which added 459 jobs or 2.6%, due in large part to the addition of 405 jobs (3.2%) in Retail Trade. Educational and Health Services added 451 jobs (0.8%). The steepest declines came in Mining, Logging, and Construction, which was off by 218 jobs or 3.9%. Overall, six of 10 published supersectors had negative monthly growth.
Over the year the Rochester area added 4,288 jobs or 3.5%. Educational and Health Services drove the growth, adding 3,642 jobs or 6.8%. Trade, Transportation, and Utilities added 1,130 jobs or 6.6%, with most of that growth coming in Retail Trade (up 1,135 or 9.4%). Five supersectors lost jobs, with the largest losses coming in Manufacturing (off by 373 jobs or 3.8%). Information employment was off by 5.5% or 60 jobs.
The St. Cloud MSA lost 546 jobs (0.5%) in November. Mining, Logging, and Construction lost 494 jobs (6%), and Manufacturing lost 272 jobs (1.8%). Six of 10 supersectors posted negative growth on the month. The largest positive growth came in Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (up 197 or 0.9%, with growth in all three component sectors) and Educational and Health Services (up 207 jobs or 0.9%).
On an annual basis the St. Cloud MSA added 194 jobs or 0.2%. This was the lowest proportional annual growth of any MSA in Minnesota. Trade, Transportation, and Utilities added 711 jobs (3.3%) with 643 added jobs in Retail Trade (up 5.1%). The highest proportional annual growth came in Other Services, which was up 5.8% or 218 jobs. The steepest decline came in Professional and Business Services, which was off by 5.3% or 410 jobs. Leisure and Hospitality was down 303 (3.7%), and Mining, Logging, and Construction was down 369 (4.6%).
The Mankato-North Mankato MSA lost 522 jobs or 0.8% over the month of November. This was the steepest proportional monthly decline of any MSA in Minnesota. Service providers lost 750 jobs (1.9%) while goods producers added 118 jobs (1.1%). Private sector employers lost 632 jobs (1.2%) while public sector employers added 110 jobs (1%).
Over the year the Mankato-North Mankato MSA added 3,084 jobs or 5.3%. This was the highest proportional annual growth of any MSA in Minnesota. Every published series posted positive growth. Employment in goods producers was up 5.9% (622 jobs), while service providers added 2,462 jobs or 5.1%. Private sector employers added 1,742 jobs (3.6%), and public sector employers added 1,342 jobs (13.8%).
The Fargo-Moorhead MSA added 774 jobs or 0.5%, over the month in November. This was the highest proportional monthly growth of any MSA in the state. Trade, Transportation, and Utilities employment was up 651 or 2.1%, and Professional and Business Services was up 318 or 2.1%. Three supersectors lost jobs, with the steepest decline coming in Mining, Logging, and Construction, which was off by 289 jobs or 3.1%.
Over the year the Fargo-Moorhead MSA added 1,296 jobs or 0.9%. Six of 10 published supersectors added jobs. Educational and Health Services was up by 1,151 or 4%, the largest real and proportional growth. Trade, Transportation, and Utilities was up 737 or 2.3%. The biggest declines came in Mining, Logging, and Construction (off 505 or 5.2%), Manufacturing (off 301 or 2.6%), and Information (down 150 or 5.6%).
The Grand Forks-East Grand Forks MSA added 93 jobs (0.2%) in November. Trade, Transportation, and Utilities was up 243 or 2.3%, and Government employers added 161 jobs or 1.2%. The largest decline dame in Mining, Logging, and Construction, which was off by 156 or 5%.
On an annual basis the Grand Forks-East Grand Forks MSA added 1,045 jobs or 1.9%. Trade, Transportation, and Utilities added 425 jobs (4%) on the strength of 420 new jobs in Retail Trade (up 6.3%). Government employers added 578 jobs (4.4%) with growth at all three levels of government. The largest real job loss came in Leisure and Hospitality, which was off by 153 (2.7%) over the year. Information employment was off by 3.4% or 20 jobs.
