by Nick Dobbins
July 2014
Monthly analysis is based on unadjusted employment data.
The MSA showed strong employment growth in June, adding 17,995 jobs (1.0 percent) before seasonal adjustment. The increase extends the metro's streak to five straight months with employment gains, as the last time employment dipped was the post-holiday slump between December and January. Industry groups with particularly large employment gains for the month included Mining, Logging, and Construction (up 3,112 or 4.8 percent), Manufacturing (up 3,299, 1.8 percent), Leisure and Hospitality (up 3,879, 2.2 percent), and Professional and Business Services (up 6,712, 2.4 percent). The gains in Professional and Business Services were driven largely by a gain of 4,952 (5 percent) in Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services, although every major component sector saw monthly job gains. The only supersectors to lose employment in June were Educational and Health Services, which dropped 1,199 jobs (0.4 percent), Other Services (down 710 or 0.9 percent), and Government (down 570, 0.2 percent). For the year, employment in the Twin Cities metro was up 32,286 (1.8 percent) with large gains in Manufacturing (up 6,957, 3.8 percent), Educational and Health Service (11,142, 3.8 percent), and Government (8,246, 3.5 percent). Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (down 3,861, 1.2 percent), Information (down 91, 0.2 percent), and Other Services (down 1,678, 2.1 percent) were the only supersectors to lose employment on the year.
Employment continued growing last month, adding 1,389 jobs (1.0 percent) for a total June estimate of 134,432. Increases were spread across most industries, with the only losses coming in Educational and Health Services (down 418 or 1.3 percent), and Government, down 1,424 (5.3 percent), largely from a decline of 1,144 (2.6 percent) in State Government. Supersectors with the largest employment increases included Mining, Logging, and Construction (up 1,163 or 13.6 percent) and Leisure and Hospitality (up 1,307, 9.5 percent). Employment levels in the Duluth metro also rose on an annual basis, albeit less dramatically, with the area adding 445 (0.3 percent) jobs over June 2013.
Employment jumped sharply in June, adding 2,085 jobs (1.9 percent) and outpacing statewide growth as well as employment growth in any other metropolitan statistical area for the month. Job gains were widely distributed among industry groups, with notable gains occurring in Manufacturing (up 598, 6.1 percent), Mining, Logging, and Construction (up 191, 5.5 percent), Educational and Health Services (up 394, 0.9 percent) and Government (up 372, 3.4 percent). The only supersector to lose employment in the Rochester MSA was Financial Activities, which lost only 10 jobs (0.4 percent). Employment gains were less dramatic on an annual basis, with 392 more jobs than in June 2013.
Employment dipped slightly in June, off 411 jobs (0.4 percent) from May estimates. The decline is largely caused by steep drops in Educational and Health Services (down 631 or 3.1 percent) and Government employment (down 1,029, 6.5 percent). Every other supersector added jobs for the month. Mining, Logging, and Construction added 235 jobs (4.2 percent), Manufacturing added 304 (2 percent), Leisure and Hospitality added 288 (3.1 percent), and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities added 185 (0.9 percent) thanks to an increase of 152 (3.6 percent) in Wholesale Trade. Annually, employment in St. Cloud has increased by 2,904 (2.8 percent).
Employment decreased slightly in June with the metro area shedding 32 jobs (0.1 percent) from May estimates. Goods producers increased employment by 165 (1.6 percent) while service providers lost 197 jobs (0.4 percent). The decline in service providers was tempered by an increase of 410 (4.7 percent) in Government employment, as private sector service providers lost 607 jobs (1.7 percent) for the month. On an annual basis, Mankato area employment increased by 868 (1.6 percent).
Employment grew by 352 (0.3 percent) in June as notable increases in Mining, Logging, and Construction (up 1,305, 14 percent) and Professional and Business Service (up 522, 3.2 percent) overcame losses in Government (down 1,046 or 5.7 percent), Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (down 205, 0.7 percent), and a handful of other supersectors. Annually, employment in the Fargo-Moorhead area showed strong growth, adding 5,900 jobs (4.5 percent) through increases in almost every major industry group.
The MSA lost a small number of jobs in June, with employment dropping by 108 (0.2 percent) over May estimates. Among the industry groups with significant movement, Mining, Logging, and Construction added 352 jobs (10.9 percent), Leisure and Hospitality lost 138 jobs (2.4 percent), and Government employers lost 220 jobs (1.6 percent). Employment has been virtually flat on the year as the metro area has added just 55 jobs (0.1 percent) since June 2013.
