by Nick Dobbins
October 2019
Employment in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington MSA was down by 8,462 (0.4 percent) in September, roughly in line with the statewide 0.5 percent decrease. The highly seasonal Leisure and Hospitality supersector led the metro in both real and proportional job losses, off by 8,898 jobs or 4.3 percent. Professional and Business Services lost 5,459 jobs (1.7 percent), and Educational and Health Services lost 2,082 (0.6 percent). Only one supersector in the metro had positive growth on the month, as Government employers added 13,652 jobs (5.9 percent). Most of that growth was driven by the start of the school year, as Local Government Educational Services added 10,863 jobs (14.7 percent), and State Government Educational Services added 6,592 (20.1 percent). Over the year the Twin Cities metro was one of only three MSAs in the state to lose jobs (Duluth and Grand Forks-East Grand Forks being the others), off by 3,690 or 0.2 percent. Educational and Health Services was the primary driver of the declines, leading the way in both real and proportional job losses (off by 11,327 jobs or 3.4 percent) as employment in both major component sectors was down by more than 3 percent. Professional and Business Services lost 5,459 jobs (1.7 percent), and Other Services lost 1,991 (2.5 percent). The largest proportional job growth came in Financial Services, which was up by 1.4 percent (2,067 jobs) with an increase of 1,657 (1.4 percent) in the Finance and Insurance component.
The Duluth-Superior MSA added 870 jobs (0.6 percent) in September. Government employers added 2,300 jobs (9.7 percent) with growth at the State (1,216 jobs, 19.6 percent) and Local levels (1,102 jobs, 6.9 percent). Mining, Logging, and Construction employment was off by 372 jobs or 3.4 percent, and Leisure and Hospitality was off by 1,100 (6.7 percent) as the labor market began to shift from summer to fall industries. Over the year the Duluth MSA lost 217 jobs (0.2 percent), dipping back into negative over-the-year growth after three months in the black. Educational and Health Services was off by 546 (1.7 percent), and Financial Activities was off by 136 (2.4 percent), along with five other supersectors that lost jobs on the year. Mining, Logging, and Construction led the MSA in both real and proportional job growth, adding 356 jobs or 3.5 percent. Professional and Business services employment was up by 244 or 3.1 percent.
The Rochester MSA lost 2,114 jobs or 1.7 percent in September. It was the worst monthly performance of any MSA in the state. Every supersector in the area lost jobs on the month, with notable declines in Educational and Health Services (down 955 or 1.9 percent) and Manufacturing (down 156, 1.3 percent). It was the third consecutive month of over-the-month job losses for the Rochester MSA. On the year the MSA added 472 jobs (0.4 percent), outpacing the state’s 0.2 percent growth. Trade, Transportation, and Utilities led the expansion, adding 615 jobs (3.5 percent), entirely from the strong performance of the Retail Trade sector (up 783 or 6.5 percent). Educational and Health Services continued to struggle, down by 890 (1.8 percent) on the year.
The Saint Cloud MSA added 523 jobs (0.5 percent) in September. Educational and Health Service was up 349 (1.6 percent), and Government employment was up by 932 (6.6 percent), with that growth coming entirely at the state and local levels. Annually the MSA added 957 jobs (0.9 percent). It was the best over-the-year performance of any MSA in the state, outpacing Minnesota’s 0.2 percent overall growth. Mining, Logging, and Construction continued to thrive, adding 794 jobs (10.5 percent) on the year. Financial Activities employment was up by 173 or 3.3 percent.
The Mankato-North Mankato MSA added 2,043 jobs (3.6 percent) on the month. It was the highest proportional over-the-month job growth of any MSA primarily in Minnesota, just edged out by the Grand Forks-East Grand Forks MSA (up 3.7 percent). Mankato’s growth came from service providers, which added 2,152 jobs (4.6 percent). Public sector employers added 1,202 jobs (14.2 percent) on the month. Over the year the Mankato area added 494 jobs (0.8 percent). Goods producers added 280 jobs (2.7 percent), and service providers added 214 (0.4 percent).
The Fargo-Moorhead MSA added 2,126 jobs (1.5 percent) in September. Government employment drove the growth as the public sector added 2,978 jobs (18 percent) with better than 20 percent growth at both the state and local levels. Professional and Business Services lost 691 jobs (4 percent). Over the year employment in the MSA was mostly flat as the area added just 23 jobs (0.0 percent). Trade, Transportation, and Utilities was down by 882 (2.9 percent) on the loss of 1,057 jobs (6.8 percent) in the Retail Trade sector.
The Grand Forks-East Grand Forks MSA added 1,998 jobs (3.7 percent) in September. It was the highest over-the-month job growth of any MSA in Minnesota. Government employers added 2,021 jobs (17.7 percent). It was the only MSA in the state not to lose jobs in Leisure and Hospitality on the month, as the supersector was up by 97 or 1.6 percent. Over the year the labor market in Grand Forks did not fare as well. It was one of only three MSAs in the state to lose jobs, off by 26 (0.1 percent). Mining, Logging, and Construction was down by 105 (3.3 percent) while Leisure and Hospitality was up by 183 (3.1 percent).
