by Nick Dobbins
February 2023
The Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington MSA lost 29,098 jobs (1.5%) over the month on an unadjusted basis in January. This was the largest decline of any MSA in Minnesota, tied with Fargo-Moorhead. Mining, Logging, and Construction had the largest proportional decline, off by 7.3% (5,809 jobs) with Specialty Trade Contractors down 2,186 jobs (6.8%). Trade, Transportation, and Utilities lost 11,089 jobs (3.2%) with Retail Trade down 6,939 (3.8%) and Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities down 3,935 (4.7%). The largest real and proportional growth was in Other Services, up 511 jobs or 0.7%.
Over the year the metro area added 37,063 jobs (2%). It was the lowest proportional growth of any MSA in the state, tied with Rochester. Four supersectors lost jobs, with the largest real and proportional losses coming in Mining, Logging, and Construction (down 3,305 jobs or 4.3%). The largest real and proportional growth came in Leisure and Hospitality, which was up 17,186 jobs or 10.9%. Manufacturing employers added 6,091 jobs (3.1%). Educational and Health Services added 10,417 jobs (3.1%) with that growth coming entirely in Health Care and Social Assistance (up 11,090 or 3.8%).
The Duluth-Superior MSA lost 1,228 jobs (0.9%) over the month in January, which was slightly better than the state's 1.2% decline. Every published supersector in the Duluth area lost jobs, with the largest real loss coming in Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (down 478 jobs or 1.9%) and the largest proportional decline coming in Mining, Logging, and Construction (off by 3.9% or 378 jobs). The other eight published supersectors all lost fewer than 100 jobs each.
On an annual basis the Duluth area added 2,891 jobs or 2.3%. Leisure and Hospitality added 620 jobs or 4.8%, the largest proportional growth of any supersector. Trade, Transportation, and Utilities added 907 jobs (3.9%) with Retail Trade up 705 jobs (5%) and Wholesale Trade up 113 jobs (4%). The only supersector in the area to post negative annual growth in January was Information, which was off by 72 jobs (7%).
The Rochester MSA lost 1,270 jobs (1%) in January. Mining, Logging, and Construction lost 314 jobs or 6.4%, the largest proportional decline of any supersector. Trade, Transportation, and Utilities employment was off by 677 jobs (3.9%) with declines in all three component sectors. Retail Trade lost 542 jobs (4.4%). The only supersector in the Rochester area to add jobs on the month was Manufacturing, which was up by 30 (0.3%).
Over the year employers in Rochester added 2,374 jobs (2%). Educational and Health Services added 874 jobs (1.7%), Mining, Logging, and Construction added 236 jobs (5.4%), and Manufacturing added 333 jobs (3.5%). Two supersectors in the area posted negative growth, with Information off 5.6% (63 jobs) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities down 1% (171 jobs) primarily from the loss of 202 jobs (1.7%) in Retail Trade.
The St. Cloud MSA lost 900 jobs (0.8%) over the month in January, slightly better than the state's 1.2% loss. Mining, Logging, and Construction lost 352 jobs or 4.8%, the largest real and proportional growth of any supersector. Educational and Health Services lost 254 jobs (1.6%), and Professional and Business Services lost 138 jobs (1.8%). Three supersectors posted positive monthly growth, with Manufacturing up 190 jobs (1.3%), Government up 25 (0.2%), and Other Services up 15 (0.4%).
On an annual basis the St. Cloud MSA added 3,047 jobs (3%). The largest proportional growth came in Mining, Logging, and Construction, which was up by 13.1% (807 jobs). Educational and Health Services added 945 jobs (4.6%), and Manufacturing added 634 jobs (4.3%). Three supersectors lost jobs on the year, with the largest real and proportional decline coming in Professional and Business Services, which was down by 248 jobs or 3.2%.
The Mankato-North Mankato MSA lost 137 jobs or 0.2% in January. This was the best monthly mark in the state, tied with Grand Forks-East Grand Forks. Service providers lost 197 jobs (0.4%), but goods producers added 60 jobs (0.6%). Government employers in the area added 440 jobs (4.7%).
Over the year the Mankato-North Mankato MSA added 2,455 jobs (4.5%). This was the best over-the year mark in the state. All published industry groups added jobs. Goods producers added 466 jobs (4.7%) while service providers added 1,989 jobs (4.4%).
The Fargo-Moorhead MSA lost 2,215 jobs or 1.5%, over the month in January. This was tied with the Twin Cities for the worst over-the-month growth of any MSA in the state. Leisure and Hospitality employers lost 753 jobs (5.3%), Government lost 629 jobs (3.1%), and Mining, Logging, and Construction lost 341 jobs (3.8%). Just two supersectors added jobs on the month, with Professional and Business Services up 1% (153 jobs) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities up 0.3% (86 jobs).
Over the year the Fargo-Moorhead MSA added 4,062 jobs (2.8%). Educational and Health Services added 1,253 jobs, (4.6%), the largest real job growth of any supersector. Mining, Logging, and Construction employment was up 11.5% (891 jobs), the largest proportional increase. Information employers lost 251 jobs or 8.6%, the largest real and proportional decrease in the area.
The Grand Forks-East Grand Forks MSA lost 117 jobs (0.2%) in January, which tied it with Mankato-North Mankato for the best over-the-month performance of any MSA in the state. Government employers added 157 jobs (1.2%), the best performance of any supersector. Educational and Health Services lost 101 jobs (1.1%) and Mining, Logging, and Construction lost 91 jobs (3.3%).
Over the year the Grand Forks-East Grand Forks MSA added 1,926 jobs or 3.7%. Every published supersector added jobs. Government employment was up 447 (3.5%), Mining, Logging, and Construction was up 247 (10%), and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities was up 384 jobs (3.8%) thanks to growth of 168 (9.8%) in Wholesale Trade.
