By Nick Dobbins
May 2022
The Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington MSA added 34,764 jobs (1.8%) over the month in April. This was the highest real and proportional monthly job growth of any MSA in the state. Mining, Logging, and Construction employment was up 7.1% (5,518 jobs), and Leisure and Hospitality employment was up 6.8% (10,671 jobs). The only supersector to lose jobs on the month was Trade, Transportation, and Utilities, which was off by 0.5% (1,688 jobs). All three major component sectors lost jobs, with the largest proportional decline coming in Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities (down by 0.8% or 594 jobs).
Over the year the metro area added 56,052 jobs or 2.9%. This was the best real and proportional annual growth of any MSA in Minnesota, outpacing the state's 2.2% over-the-year growth. Leisure and Hospitality continued to lead supersectors in real and proportional growth, adding 23,183 jobs or 16.1%, as it continues its recovery. Manufacturing employers added 12,692 jobs (6.6%) with growth in both durable and non-durable goods. Other Services added 4,361 jobs or 6.2%. Three supersectors lost jobs on the year. The declines were led by Mining, Logging, and Construction, which shed 1,523 jobs (1.8%) with Specialty Trade Contractors driving those declines, losing 4,174 jobs (7.5%). Educational and Health Services was down 0.1% (429 jobs) with the loss coming entirely in Health Care and Social Assistance (down 2,694 jobs or 0.9%), and Government employers lost 515 jobs (0.2%) with both State and Federal level employers posting declines.
The Duluth-Superior MSA added 545 jobs or 0.4% in April. It was the worst over-the-month growth of any MSA primarily in Minnesota although better than Grand Forks-East Grand Forks. Nine of 10 published supersectors added jobs on the month, with the largest proportional growth coming in Manufacturing (up 1.4% or 112 jobs), and the largest real job growth coming in Leisure and Hospitality, up 178 jobs (1.3%). Trade, Transportation, and Utilities was the only supersector to post negative growth, losing 143 jobs (0.6%), with losses in all three component sectors, the largest coming in Retail Trade (off 3% or 99 jobs).
On an annual basis the Duluth MSA added 3,082 jobs (2.4%), slightly better than the statewide mark of 2.2%. Leisure and Hospitality led the growth, adding 1,866 jobs or 15.6%. Manufacturers added 482 jobs or 6.2%, and Mining, Logging, and Construction added 595 jobs (6.6%). Three supersectors lost jobs on the year, with the largest declines coming in Educational and Health Services, which was off by 826 jobs or 2.6%.
The Rochester MSA added 725 jobs or 0.6% over the month in April. This lagged the statewide monthly growth of 1.2%. Nine of 10 published supersectors added jobs on the month. The largest proportional growth was Mining, Logging, and Construction, up 4.4% (217 jobs), and the largest real job growth was in Educational and Health Services, up 243 jobs or 0.5%. The only supersector to lose jobs was Trade, Transportation, and Utilities, which was off by 331 jobs or 1.9%.
Over the year the Rochester area added 2,740 jobs (2.3%). Leisure and Hospitality led the growth, adding 1,251 jobs or 13.1%. Professional and Business Services employment was up by 8.5% (548 jobs). The largest losses came in Information, which shed 105 jobs or 8.1%. Manufacturing was down 59 jobs (0.6%), and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities lost 21 jobs (0.1%).
The St. Cloud MSA added 1,173 jobs (1.1%) over the month in April. Trade, Transportation, and Utilities was the only supersector to lose jobs, off by 73 jobs (0.3%) with declines in all three component sectors. Mining, Logging, and Construction employers added 395 jobs or 5.6%, and Manufacturing added 220 jobs, 1.5%.
On an annual basis the St. Cloud area added 2,306 jobs or 2.2%. This was the lowest over-the-year growth of any MSA primarily in Minnesota. Fargo-Moorhead, which is primarily in North Dakota, was lower at 2.0%, although in the St. Cloud MSA only one supersector lost jobs - Financial Activities. It was down by 5 jobs, 0.1%). Leisure and Hospitality added 809 jobs (11.5%), and Mining, Logging, and Construction added 305 jobs (4.3%).
The Mankato-North Mankato MSA added 553 jobs over the month of April, somewhat smaller than the state's 1.2% monthly growth. Goods producers added 401 jobs (4%) while service providers added 0.3% (151 jobs).
Over the year the Mankato-North Mankato area added 1,274 jobs (2.3%). Goods producers added 714 jobs (7.3%), and service providers added 560 (1.2%). Private sector employment was up 1,110 jobs (2.4%) while public sector employment was up 164 jobs (1.7%).
The Fargo-Moorhead MSA added 1,558 jobs (1.1%) over the month in April. Mining, Logging, and Construction employment was up 708 jobs (9.1%), and Professional and Business Services was up 308 jobs (2%). Three supersectors lost jobs on the year, with the largest declines coming in Information (down 49 jobs or 1.7%).
Over the year the Fargo-Moorhead MSA added 2,884 jobs (2%), the worst over-the-year growth of any MSA in Minnesota. Financial Activities lost 507 jobs (4.3%), and Information lost 140 jobs (4.8%). The largest real and proportional increase came in Professional and Business Services, which was up 1,332 or 9.4%. Leisure and Hospitality employers added 436 jobs or 3.5%.
The Grand Forks-East Grand Forks MSA added 119 jobs or 0.2% in April. It was the lowest over-the-month growth of any MSA in the state. Leisure and Hospitality employers lost 261 jobs (4.4%), keeping overall growth limited. The largest real and proportional growth was in Mining, Logging, and Construction, up by 148 or 5.6%.
On the year the Grand Forks-East Grand Forks MSA added 1,239 jobs (2.4%). Leisure and Hospitality employers added 606 jobs or 12.1%, and Professional and Business Services added 448 jobs or 12.9%. Educational and Health Services lost 119 jobs or 1.3%, the largest real and proportional declines of any supersector in the MSA.
