by Nick Dobbins
October 2016
Monthly analysis is based on unadjusted employment data.
Employment in the Minneapolis-St. Paul MSA decreased very slightly in September, off by 915 (0.0 percent) from August estimates. The loss stemmed entirely from Private Sector employment, as the start of a new school year drove up Government employment by 16,737 (7.2 percent), with Local Government Educational Services adding 10,540 (14.6 percent). Large declines occurred in Leisure and Hospitality (down 6,932 or 3.6 percent) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (down 6,431 or 1.8 percent) which lost 3,527 jobs or 1.9 percent in the component Retail Trade sector. The decline in Leisure and Hospitality is common for September as temperatures drop and students return to school. The MSA has lost jobs in every single September on record, dating back to 1990. Annually the Twin Cities metro added 38,195 jobs (2 percent). Goods Producers added 1,958 jobs (0.7 percent), and August estimates were also revised upward, turning what had appeared to be a job loss into a small gain. Service Providers added 36,237 jobs (2.2 percent), driving most of the metro area’s growth. Educational and Health Services added 10,345 jobs (3.3 percent), with the overwhelming majority of that growth coming in Health Care and Social Assistance (9,907 jobs or 3.6 percent), and, more specifically, in Ambulatory Health Care Services (up 8,852 or 10.2 percent). Professional and Business Services added 13,067 jobs (4.3 percent). The lion’s share of that growth came in Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services, which added 7,643 jobs or 7.1 percent.
The Duluth-Superior MSA saw some slight job loss in September, shedding 176 jobs (0.1 percent) on the month. Private sector employers lost 1,902 jobs (1.7 percent), while Government employers added 1,726 jobs (7.3 percent). While every single private supersector lost employment in September, the sharpest decline for the month came in Leisure and Hospitality, which shed 846 jobs (5.5 percent). Annually the Duluth MSA’s employment was largely flat, adding just 49 jobs (0 percent) over the previous 12 months. While small, the 49 jobs represent the third consecutive month that the area has had positive over-the-year job growth, an encouraging sign after nearly a year of annual losses. Among the supersectors to add employment were Professional and Business Services (up 318 or 3.9 percent) and Financial Activities (up 234 or 4.3 percent). Supersectors to lose employment included Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (down 388 or 1.5 percent) and Mining, Logging, and Construction (down 340 or 3.6 percent).
Employment in the Rochester MSA was down by 518 (0.4 percent) in September. Leisure and Hospitality and Mining, Logging, and Construction were the big losers, dropping 403 jobs (3.8 percent) and 225 jobs (4.3 percent), respectively. The supersector to add the most was Trade, Transportation, and Utilities, which was up by 524 (2.8 percent). Annually Rochester added 4,305 jobs (3.7 percent). Notable increases occurred in Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (up 1,491 or 8.4 percent), Professional and Business Services (up 263 or 4.6 percent), and Educational and Health Services (up 1,814 or 3.9 percent), among others. The only supersector to lose employment was Financial Activities, which cut 38 jobs (1.4 percent) from September 2015.
The Saint Cloud MSA added 440 jobs (0.4 percent) in September. Breaking from the statewide movement, Leisure and Hospitality added 481 jobs (5.5 percent). Government employers also saw notable growth, adding 482 jobs (3.3 percent) thanks to a gain of 342 (1.8 percent) in State Government and 182 (0.8 percent) in Local Government. Mining, Logging, and Construction lost 185 jobs (2.4 percent). Over the year the area added 3,004 jobs (2.8 percent), with nearly every supersector contributing to the growth. The only group to lose jobs was Manufacturing, which was off by 269 (1.8 percent). Mining, Logging, and Construction was among the notable growth supersectors, adding 776 jobs or 11.2 percent.
Employment in the Mankato-North Mankato MSA was up by 665 (1.2 percent) in September. Private sector employment declined by 23 jobs (0 percent) while Government employers added 688 jobs (8.6 percent). Goods Producers lost 142 jobs (1.4 percent), and Service Providers added 807 jobs (1.8 percent). Annually the Mankato area lost 134 jobs (0.2 percent). Goods Producing industries lost 131 jobs (1.3 percent) while Service Providing industries lost 3 (0 percent).
Employment in the Fargo-Moorhead MSA was up by 2,274 (1.6 percent) in September. The growth came primarily from Government employers, who added 2,504 jobs (16 percent). Significant declines occurred in Mining, Logging, and Construction (down 481 or 4.3 percent) and Professional and Business Services (down 681 or 4 percent). Annually the Fargo-Moorhead MSA added 1,767 jobs (1.3 percent). Mining, Logging, and Construction added 625 jobs (6.1 percent), and Leisure and Hospitality added 497 (3.5 percent).
Employment in the Grand Forks-East Grand Forks MSA was up in September, adding 2,080 jobs (3.7 percent), with Government employers adding 2,120 jobs (17.6 percent). Annually the area added 157 jobs (0.3 percent). Manufacturing was among the notable growers, adding 298 jobs (7.5 percent). The steepest drop came in Professional and Business Services, which lost 148 jobs or 4.1 percent.
