by Nick Dobbins
November 2018
Monthly analysis is based on unadjusted employment data.
Employment in the Minneapolis-St. Paul MSA was up by 7,892 jobs (0.4 percent) in October. This was the lowest over-the-month growth by percent of any MSA in the state. As is to be expected in the fall, growth was hindered by declines in two warm-weather industries. Mining, Logging, and Construction lost 2,057 jobs (2.3 percent), and Leisure and Hospitality lost 5,058 (2.6 percent). The largest proportional growth came from Government employment (up 1.8 percent, 4,537 jobs), led by Local Government Education, which added 7,378 jobs (8.3 percent). Over the year the metro area added 33,536 jobs (1.7 percent), outpacing the state’s 1.2 percent over-the-year growth. The largest proportional over-the-year growth in the metro came in Mining, Logging, and Construction which added 4,412 jobs (5.2 percent). By far the largest addition in real jobs came in Trade, Transportation, and Utilities, which was up by 10,125 (2.8 percent) with contributions from all three component sectors.
The Duluth-Superior MSA added 1,037 jobs (0.7 percent) in October. Government employers led the growth again this month, up 1,202 (4.4 percent) as schools continued to add staff for the new academic year. The steepest decline came in the highly seasonal Leisure and Hospitality supersector which shed 624 jobs (4.2 percent). Over the year the Duluth MSA added 2,016 jobs (1.5 percent), outpacing statewide over-the-year growth. A number of supersectors contributed to the increase. Among the most notable were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (up 469 or 1.9 percent), Leisure and Hospitality (up 349, 2.4 percent), and Other Services (up 229, 3.5 percent). Educational and Health Services lost 111 jobs (0.3 percent).
Employment in the Rochester MSA was up slightly in October as the area added 639 jobs (0.5 percent). Government employers added 408 jobs (3.1 percent) with growth of 403 (3.8 percent) in Local Government. Trade, Transportation, and Utilities added 292 jobs (1.7 percent). The gains were somewhat muted by a number of supersectors with small employment declines. The most notable loss came in Leisure and Hospitality (down by 181 or 1.5 percent). Over the year the Rochester area added 785 jobs (0.6 percent). This was the lowest proportional over-the-year growth of any MSA entirely within Minnesota. Declines in two large supersectors kept down the area’s growth as Trade, Transportation, and Utilities was down by 318 (1.8 percent), and Educational and Health Services lost 472 (1 percent). Every other supersector save Mining, Logging, and Construction added jobs.
Employment in the Saint Cloud MSA was up by 866 (0.8 percent) in October. Government employers added 651 jobs (4.4 percent), and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities added 310 (1.4 percent). Educational and Health Services lost 190 jobs (0.8 percent), and Mining, Logging, and Construction lost 95 (1.3 percent). Annually the Saint Cloud MSA added 1,764 jobs (1.6 percent). Manufacturing led the way in both actual and proportional over-the-year growth, up by 911 jobs or 6 percent. Educational and Health Services lost 157 jobs (0.7 percent), and Trade, Transportation and Utilities lost 151 (0.7 percent). Information shed 48 jobs (3.1 percent), the largest proportional decline in the area. All other supersectors added jobs.
The Mankato-North Mankato MSA added 1,568 jobs or 2.6 percent in October. This was the largest over-the-month growth rate of any MSA in Minnesota. Service providers did most of the heavy lifting, adding 1,437 jobs (2.9 percent), although goods producers added jobs as well. Annually the area added 1,765 jobs (2.9 percent), which was also the highest over-the-year growth rate in the state. Goods producers added 498 jobs (4.8 percent), and service providers added 1,267 (2.5 percent).
Employment in the Fargo-Moorhead MSA was up by 936 (0.7 percent) in October. Government employers added 620 jobs (3.2 percent), and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities added 357 (1.2 percent) on the strength of 293 new jobs in Retail Trade (up 1.9 percent). Annually the Fargo-Moorhead MSA added 717 jobs (0.5 percent). It was the lowest proportional over-the-year growth in the state. Leisure and Hospitality employment was off by 532 jobs (3.8 percent) on the year, the largest decline both proportionally and in total jobs. Educational and Health Services employment was up by 712 (2.9 percent), and Mining, Logging, and Construction was up by 389 (4.1 percent).
The Grand Forks-East Grand Forks MSA added 671 jobs (1.2 percent) in October. Government employers added 362 jobs (2.7 percent), and Leisure and Hospitality added 220 (3.4 percent). Bucking the trend in Minnesota, Trade, Transportation, and Utilities lost 51 jobs (0.4 percent), and Retail Trade lost 61 jobs (0.8 percent). It was the only MSA in the state besides Duluth to show declines in these industry groups. Annually the MSA added 765 jobs (1.3 percent). Leisure and Hospitality added 646 jobs (10.8 percent), leading the growth in both real and proportional terms. Government employers lost 465 jobs (3.2 percent), all of that coming at the hands of State Government (down 487, 6.7 percent).
