By Nick Dobbins
January 2022
The Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington MSA lost 11,803 jobs or 0.6% over the month in December, a time when job losses are common from seasonal employment patterns. This was lower than the statewide 0.8% monthly decline. Six of 10 published supersectors lost jobs, with the largest declines coming in the highly seasonal Mining, Logging, and Construction (off by 5.4% or 4,847 jobs) and Leisure and Hospitality (down 2.5% or 3,926 jobs). The largest real job gains came in Trade, Transportation, and Utilities, which added 2,112 jobs (0.6%) thanks to the addition of 2,533 jobs (1.4%) in Retail Trade.
Over the year the metro area added 98,820 jobs or 5.3%. This was an improvement over November, when over-the-year growth was 3.8%. November and December reversed the trend of slowly declining over-the-year growth that had been present since May. Over-the-year growth was greatest in Leisure and Hospitality, which added 56,378 jobs or 57.4%, a distinct improvement over November's 25% change. One reason for the large change was that the industry posted large losses in December 2020 caused by a spike in COVID cases and its accompanying restrictions on some activities. Professional and Business Services added 15,970 jobs (5.2%), thanks in large part to the strength of Administrative and Support and Waste Management Services, which added 7,698 jobs or 8.2%. Only two supersectors posted negative growth, Financial Activities (down 5,983 or 3.7%, with all of the losses coming in Finance and Insurance) and Information (down 32 jobs or 0.1%).
The Duluth-Superior MSA lost 475 jobs (0.4%) over the month in December. Mining, Logging, and Construction posted the steepest declines, off by 4.5% or 407 jobs. Leisure and Hospitality employers shed 218 jobs or 1.6%. The largest gains, in both real and proportional terms, came in Trade, Transportation, and Utilities. The supersector added 401 jobs (1.7%), with Retail Trade up 361 or 2.5%.
Over the year the Duluth area added 6,165 jobs. Leisure and Hospitality was the largest mover, adding 4,157 jobs or 44.8%. Manufacturing employers added 568 jobs or 7.3%, and Government employers added 800 jobs (3.2%). Only two supersectors posted negative annual growth: Mining, Logging, and Construction lost 490 jobs (5.4%), and Information lost 30 jobs (2.8%).
The Rochester MSA lost 568 jobs (0.5%) over the month in December, slightly better than the statewide mark of -0.8%. Government employers added 210 jobs (1.6%) with all of the growth coming at the Local Government level (up 236 or 2.2%). The largest real job loss was in Leisure and Hospitality (down 246 jobs or 2.3%) while the steepest proportional decline was in Mining, Logging, and Construction (down 4.3% or 225 jobs).
Over the year the Rochester area added 6,520 jobs or 5.6%. Leisure and Hospitality employment was up 3,516 jobs or 51.3%. Government employers added 1,019 jobs (8.3%) with Local Government up 1,081 (11.1%). Professional and Business Services employment was up 7.5% or 425 jobs. Two supersectors in the area lost jobs on the year. Trade, Transportation, and Utilities employment was down 226 (1.3%) with Retail Trade off 232 jobs (1.9%). Information employment was down 54 jobs or 4.1%.
Employment in the St. Cloud MSA was down 0.4% or 439 jobs in December. Despite posting negative growth, it was the best over-the-month growth of any MSA primarily in Minnesota. Leisure and Hospitality added jobs on the month, up 109 or 1.7%, although the larger trend is for job losses in the supersector in December. The largest real job growth was in Manufacturing, up 211 jobs or 1.4%. Mining, Logging, and Construction posted the largest real and proportional decline, off by 5.5% or 438 jobs. Government employers lost 315 jobs or 2%, with all of the losses coming at the State Government level (down 433 or 10.9%).
Over the year the St. Cloud area added 4,958 jobs (4.8%). Leisure and Hospitality had the largest proportional growth, up 20.7% or 1,146 jobs. The largest real job growth came in Trade, Transportation, and Utilities, up 1,296 jobs or 6.1%. All three component sectors added jobs, but Retail Trade led the growth, up 926 or 7.4%. Two supersectors lost jobs on the year. Educational and Health Services was down 245 (1.1%), and Financial Activities was down 135 (2.5%).
The Mankato-North Mankato MSA lost 787 jobs or 1.4% in December. It was the worst over-the-month job growth of any MSA primarily in Minnesota, and all published industry groups lost jobs. Service providers lost 593 jobs (1.3%) while goods producers lost 194 (1.9%).
Over the year, the area added 2,429 jobs (4.5%). It was the worst over-the-year performance of any MSA primarily in the state. The Grand Forks-East Grand Forks MSA, which is primarily in North Dakota, posted 3% growth. Private sector employers added 2,282 jobs (5.1%) while public sector employers added 147 jobs (1.6%).
The Fargo-Moorhead MSA lost 571 jobs or 0.4% over the month in December. It was tied with St. Cloud for the best proportional monthly growth of any MSA in the state. Mining, Logging, and Construction drove the declines, losing 830 jobs or 8.2%. Professional and Business Services added 668 jobs or 4.7%.
Over the year the Fargo-Moorhead area added 6,343 jobs, or 4.5%, well under Minnesota's overall annual growth of 6.2%. Leisure and Hospitality employment was up 2,837 jobs (24.6%) and Professional and Business Services was up 1,389 (10.4%). Two supersectors lost jobs on the year. Information was down 2.3% (68 jobs), and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities lost 8 jobs (0.0%).
The Grand Forks-East Grand Forks MSA lost 399 jobs (0.8%) over the month in December. Professional and Business Services lost 166 jobs (5.5%), the largest proportional decline of any supersector in the area. Four supersectors added a small amount of jobs, with the largest real growth coming in Trade, Transportation, and Utilities, which added 13 jobs (0.1%).
Over the year the area added 1,538 jobs or 3%. It was the lowest over-the-year growth of any MSA in the state. Leisure and Hospitality added 1,292 jobs (27.1%), the largest real and proportional growth of any supersector. Professional and Business Services lost 325 jobs or 10.2%.
