by Nick Dobbins
November 2019
Monthly analysis is based on unadjusted employment data.
The Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington metropolitan statistical area (MSA) added 13,308 jobs (0.7 percent) in October, which under-performed compared to the state’s 1.1 percent over-the month increase. The metro area’s growth came largely from Government, which was up 7,752 or 3.1 percent, and the supersector’s growth came primarily from the 6,581 new jobs in Local Government Educational Services. Other supersectors with notable growth included Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (up 3,367 or 0.9 percent) and Professional and Business Services (up 5,384 or 1.7 percent). Leisure and Hospitality employers lost 4,053 jobs or 2.1 percent. Over the year the Twin Cities metro lost 908 jobs (0.0 percent). While it remained the only MSA in the state to lose jobs on the year, the situation improved in October as growth improved from -0.2 percent in September. The metro has had negative annual growth in six of the 10 months of 2019. October declines were led by Educational and Health Services, off by 10,567 or 3.1 percent, with declines of greater than 2 percent in all three component sectors. Social Assistance posted the worst mark, off by 5.9 percent or 4,187 jobs. The strongest growth came in Mining, Logging, and Construction, which was up by 4,247 jobs or 4.8 percent. Leisure and Hospitality continued its strong run, adding 3,738 jobs or 2 percent.
The Duluth-Superior MSA added 1,517 jobs (1.1 percent) in October. Of the 10 published supersectors in the MSA, seven added jobs. As was the case across the state, Government employers led the way with 1,124 new jobs (up 4.3 percent) thanks to strong growth in Local Government (up 799, 4.7 percent). Mining, Logging, and Construction and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities were both up 1.2 percent, adding 130 and 299 jobs, respectively. The largest declines, in both real and proportional employment, came in Leisure and Hospitality, off 380 or 2.5 percent. Over the year the MSA added 1,080 jobs (0.8 percent). Mining, Logging, and Construction added 452 jobs (4.4 percent), Professional and Business Services added 251 (3.2 percent), and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities added 358 (1.5 percent), with growth in all three component sectors. The largest decline came in Financial Activities, which was off by 155 jobs or 2.8 percent.
The Rochester MSA added 980 jobs (0.8 percent) in October. Educational and Health Services added 577 jobs (1.2 percent), Trade, Transportation, and Utilities added 302 (1.6 percent), and Government employers added 246 (1.9 percent). The largest declines came in Leisure and Hospitality, off by 146 or 1.3 percent. On the year the MSA added 1,268 jobs (1 percent), slightly outpacing Minnesota’s 0.8 percent over-the-year growth. Rochester’s most rapid expansion came in Trade, Transportation, and Utilities, which added 675 jobs (3.8 percent) entirely on the growth in Retail Trade (up 802 or 6.5 percent). The other two component sectors lost jobs on the year. The largest proportional annual decline in the MSA came from the Information supersector, where employment was off by 2.8 percent (45 jobs).
The Saint Cloud MSA added 665 jobs (0.6 percent) in October. Government employment was up 673 (4.5 percent), and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities employment was up 423 (1.9 percent). Leisure and Hospitality and Mining, Logging, and Construction were both off by 2.9 percent on the month, shedding 246 and 242 jobs, respectively. On the year the MSA added 780 jobs (0.7 percent). Mining, Logging, and Construction was the primary driver of job growth, adding 661 jobs (8.8 percent). Manufacturing was up 248 (1.6 percent), while losses came in Leisure and Hospitality (down 332 or 3.9 percent) and Professional and Business Services (down 245 or 2.8 percent).
The Mankato-North Mankato MSA added 1,907 jobs (3.2 percent) in October, the largest proportional over-the-month job growth of any MSA in the state. Private sector employers added 1,400 jobs (2.8 percent), and public sector employers added 507 (5.2 percent). The area added 935 jobs (1.6 percent) on the year, which was also the largest proportional over-the-year job growth for any Minnesota MSA. Goods producers added 261 jobs (2.5 percent), and service providers added 674 (1.4 percent).
The Fargo-Moorhead MSA added 1,172 jobs (0.8 percent) in October, with most of those gains coming in Government (up 646 or 3.3 percent) and Professional and Business Services (up 324 or 1.9 percent). Seven of the 10 published supersectors had positive growth on the month. On the year Fargo-Moorhead employers added 773 jobs (0.5 percent). Professional and Business Services added 951 jobs (5.9 percent), and Educational and Health Services added 839 (3.4 percent), countering the loss of 1,203 jobs (3.9 percent) in Trade, Transportation, and Utilities.
The Grand Forks-East Grand Forks MSA added 407 jobs (0.7 percent) in October. Government employers added 369 jobs (2.8 percent), and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities added 155 (1.4 percent). Professional and Business Services lost 177 jobs (4.9 percent). Annually the Grand Forks-East Grand Forks MSA added 24 jobs (0.0 percent). Gains in Manufacturing (up 163 or 3.7 percent) and Educational and Health Services (up 94, 1 percent) were countered by losses in Professional and Business Services (down 104, 2.9 percent) and Government (down 100, 0.7 percent).
