By Nick Dobbins
June 2021
The Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington MSA added 32,465 jobs, or 1.7%, over the month in May. It was the best proportional over-the-month growth of any MSA primarily in Minnesota. It still lagged the statewide growth of 2%, however, suggesting that rural and other outstate areas outpaced the MSAs for monthly growth. Somewhat ironically, it was the state's largest MSA that posted the strongest over-the-month growth. Every supersector save one added jobs on the month. Government employment was off by 0.8%, or 2,003 jobs, driven by a decline of 5.4% in State Government education as state colleges and universities ended their spring semesters. Leisure and Hospitality had the largest real and proportional growth, adding 15,749 jobs or 11.3%. Mining, Logging, and Construction added 5,476 jobs or 6.6%.
Over the year the metro area added 149,293 jobs or 8.4%, slightly below April's mark as well as the state's over-the-year change, both of which were 8.8%. Two supersectors lost jobs on the year, Information (down 1,539 or 4.8%) and Financial Activities (down 19 jobs, 0.0%). The largest real and proportional growth continued to come from the state's hardest hit supersector, as Leisure and Hospitality added 58,586 jobs or 61%. Other Services employment was up by 32.9% (17,718 jobs), Trade, Transportation, and Utilities was up 25,827 jobs or 8.2% on the strength of 25,468 new jobs in Retail Trade (up 16.4%), and Educational and Health Services added 19,218 jobs or 6.2%.
The Duluth-Superior MSA added 1,410 jobs or 1.1% over the month in May. Mining, Logging, and Construction added 772 jobs (9.1%) for the largest real and proportional growth of any supersector in the area. Leisure and Hospitality employment was up 6.3% or 761 jobs in May, the second-best in both categories. Four supersectors lost jobs on the month, with the largest real job loss coming in Educational and Health Services (down 213 or 0.7%) and the largest proportional decline coming in Information (down 1.5% or 16 jobs).
On the year the Duluth area added 13,379 jobs (11.4%). This was the best over-the-year mark of any MSA primarily in Minnesota and well above the state's overall over-the-year growth of 8.8%. Every supersector in the area added jobs on the year. Leisure and Hospitality led the way, up 55.9% or 4,614 jobs. Other Services employment was up 21.9% (999 jobs), Mining, Logging, and Construction was up 14.6% (1,182 jobs), and Educational and Health Services added 2,052 jobs (6.9%).
The Rochester MSA added 1,851 jobs (1.6%) over the month in May. Leisure and Hospitality led the way, up 778 jobs or 8.6%. Mining, Logging, and Construction added 429 jobs or 9%. Information was the only supersector in the area to post negative job growth, off by 0.8% or 11 jobs.
Annually the Rochester area added 7,791 jobs (6.9%). Leisure and Hospitality added 2,894 jobs (41.7%), and Other Services added 30.6% or 563 jobs. Three supersectors lost jobs on the year, with the largest real and proportional declines coming in Manufacturing (down by 423 jobs or 4.1%). The next largest decline was in Mining, Logging, and Construction, which was down just 69 jobs or 1.3%.
The St. Cloud MSA added 1,267 jobs (1.2%) in May. Mining, Logging, and Construction led the growth, adding 833 jobs or 11.5%. Leisure and Hospitality added 294 jobs or 4.7%. Four supersectors posted negative growth, with the largest real and proportional decline coming in Educational and Health Services, which was off by 98 jobs or 0.5%.
Over the year the St. Cloud area added 7,350 jobs (7.4%). It was the worst over-the-year rate posted by any MSA primarily in Minnesota. Financial Activities was the only supersector with over-the-year losses, down by 176 jobs or 3.2%. The largest gains came in Leisure and Hospitality, up 1,401 jobs or 27.2%.
The Mankato-North Mankato MSA added 356 jobs or 0.6% over the month in May. It was the worst over-the-month job growth of any MSA primarily in Minnesota. Private sector employers added 391 jobs (0.9%), but that growth was tempered by the loss of 35 jobs (0.4%) among public sector employers.
On the year the Mankato-North Mankato MSA added 4,160 jobs or 8.1%. Goods producers lost 50 jobs (0.5%), but Service Providers added 4,210 jobs or 10%. Private sector employers added 3,724 jobs (8.8%), and public sector employers added 436 (4.6%).
The Fargo-Moorhead MSA added 2,388 jobs or 1.7% in May. It was tied with Minneapolis-St. Paul for the best proportional over-the-month change in the state. Mining, Logging, and Construction added 892 jobs or 9.1%, leading the way in the region. Manufacturing employers added 212 jobs (2.1%), Leisure and Hospitality added 695 (5.4%), and Professional and Business Services added 316 (2.3%).
Annually the Fargo-Moorhead area added 11,156 jobs or 8.3%, slightly behind the statewide 8.8% growth. The largest real and proportional growth came in Leisure and Hospitality (up 4,368 jobs or 47.1%). The only negative growth came in Information (off by 130 jobs or 4.3%).
The Grand Forks-East Grand Forks MSA added 462 jobs or 0.9% in May. Mining, Logging, and Construction added 398 jobs (15.2%), and Leisure and Hospitality added 274 (5%). Four supersectors lost jobs on the month, including Educational and Health Services (down 161, or 1.7%) and Government (down 151, or 1.2%).
Over the year, the Grand Forks-East Grand Forks MSA added 2,766 jobs or 5.7%. The largest real and proportional growth came in Leisure and Hospitality (up 1,315 jobs or 29.6%) followed by Government (up 1,140 jobs or 9.8%). Five supersectors in the MSA lost jobs on the year, with the biggest decline coming in Professional and Business Services (down 173 or 5.3%).
