by Nick Dobbins
June 2020
Monthly analysis is based on unadjusted employment data.
The Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington MSA added 29,711 jobs (1.7 percent) in May, slightly outpacing the state’s 1.6 percent over-the-month growth. Leisure and Hospitality had the largest monthly growth, adding 13,365 jobs or 16 percent, although this growth brought back just a fraction of the jobs lost in April. Other Services added 2,508 jobs (4.2 percent), and Mining, Logging, and Construction added 11,774 jobs (17.1 percent), likely aided by the seasonal growth in Construction that tends to follow warmer spring weather. The largest proportional over-the-month job loss came in Information (down 3.7 percent or 1,196 jobs). Government employers lost 6,995 jobs or 2.9 percent. State-level employers lost 4,300 jobs (6.5 percent) with all of those losses coming in the Educational Services component, and Local Government lost 3,904 jobs (11.1 percent) with declines in both Educational and Non-Educational Services. Annually the metro area lost 264,492 jobs or 12.9 percent. This was slightly better than the state’s 13.1 percent over-the-year job loss and a slight improvement over April’s 13.3 percent decline. Every supersector had negative job growth as the job market began to stabilize and showed the first small signs of recovery. The largest over-the-year declines continued to be in Leisure and Hospitality, which was off by 50.4 percent (98,505 jobs), although this too was an improvement over April’s 55.4 percent decline. Other Services had the next-largest decline, off by 22 percent (17,313 jobs). While this was also an improvement over April, the supersector may see more significant improvement in June when containment restrictions around personal services businesses such as hair salons and barber shops were eased. Financial Activities had the lowest over-the-year job declines, off 2.8 percent or 4,480 jobs.
The Duluth-Superior MSA added 1,883 jobs (1.6 percent) in May. It was tied with Grand Forks-East Grand Forks for the lowest over-the-month growth rate in the state. Leisure and Hospitality had the largest monthly growth, adding 1,369 jobs or 20.1 percent. The largest proportional decline came in Information, which was off by 4.8 percent or 52 jobs. Educational and Health Services lost 642 jobs (2.1 percent), and Government employers lost 364 jobs (1.5 percent). Over the year the Duluth area lost 19,767 jobs (14.2 percent). Every supersector lost jobs on the year. However, as was largely the case across the state, losses tended to be slightly smaller than they were in April. Leisure and Hospitality was off by 46.6 percent (7,132 jobs), and Other Services was off by 15.9 percent (1,011 jobs). Information employment was off by 21.8 percent (285 jobs). Mining, Logging, and Construction was down by 16.9 percent (1,666 jobs). Professional and Business Services had the best over-the-year performance, off by 4.2 percent (326 jobs).
The Rochester MSA added 2,875 jobs or 2.6 percent in May. It was the largest proportional over-the-month growth of any MSA primarily in Minnesota. Employment in Fargo-Moorhead was up 3.5 percent. Leisure and Hospitality was up by 25.8 percent (1,584 jobs) on the month, and Mining, Logging, and Construction was up 13.1 percent (601 jobs). Government employers lost 212 jobs (1.7 percent) with most of those declines coming at the Local Government level (down 223 or 2.2 percent). Over the year the Rochester MSA lost 11,933 jobs (9.6 percent). It was the lowest proportional over-the-year job loss of any MSA primarily in Minnesota. As was the case over the month, it was outpaced by Fargo-Moorhead, which is primarily in North Dakota. Leisure and Hospitality lost 4,068 jobs (34.5 percent), and Other Services lost 676 (17.4 percent). The prominent Educational and Health Services supersector lost 4,651 jobs (9 percent). Unlike many areas, Rochester actually had a supersector with positive over-the-year job growth, as Manufacturers added 294 jobs (2.7 percent).
The Saint Cloud MSA added 2,025 jobs (2.1 percent) in May. Leisure and Hospitality was up by 21.5 percent (968 jobs), and Mining, Logging, and Construction was up by 20 percent (1,224 jobs). Manufacturing employment was down by 178 jobs (1.5 percent). On the year the MSA lost 12,036 jobs (10.8 percent). Leisure and Hospitality was down by 34.6 percent (2,890 jobs), and Manufacturing employment was off by 4,039 jobs or 26 percent. Every supersector in the area lost jobs on an annual basis.
The Mankato-North Mankato MSA added 1,018 jobs (2 percent) in May. The private sector added 1,428 jobs (3.4 percent), while public sector employers lost 410 jobs (4.3 percent). Goods producers drove the growth, adding 703 jobs (7.1 percent). Over the year the Mankato area lost 6,748 jobs (11.4 percent). Service providers lost 6,363 jobs (13.2 percent), and Goods Producers lost 385 (3.5 percent).
The Fargo-Moorhead MSA added 4,623 jobs (3.5 percent) in May, the largest over-the-month growth of any MSA in the state. Leisure and Hospitality added 2,075 jobs (29.6 percent), and Mining, Logging, and Construction added 1,114 jobs (14.2 percent). The only supersector to lose jobs on the month was Government, which was off by 0.4 percent or 84 jobs, with the losses coming entirely at the State Government level. The MSA also had the best over-the-year performance in the state, down 7.3 percent or 10,744 jobs. Every supersector posted losses, with the largest coming in Leisure and Hospitality (down 5,646 or 38.3 percent).
The Grand Forks-East Grand Forks MSA added 807 jobs (1.6 percent) in May. It was tied with Duluth-Superior for the lowest proportional over-the-month growth. Leisure and Hospitality was up 514 (15.3 percent), and Mining, Logging, and Construction was up 576 (25 percent), while Professional and Business Services lost 319 jobs (10.4 percent), and Government lost 643 (5.1 percent). On the year the MSA lost 5,640 jobs (10.2 percent). Leisure and Hospitality was off by 1,940 (33.3 percent), and Government employers lost 1,977 (14.2 percent).
