by Nick Dobbins
September 2014
Monthly analysis is based on unadjusted employment data.
Employment in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) rose slightly in August as the metro added 1,940 jobs (0.1 percent). Goods producers led the way with a gain of 2,026 (0.8 percent) while service providers actually lost a small amount of employment. Supersectors with significant employment gains included Mining, Logging, and Construction, which was up 2,014 (2.9 percent) as summer employment continued to grow, and Professional and Business Services, up 1,909 (0.7 percent). Government employment dropped by 1,409 (0.6 percent) from a decline of 1,244 (3.3 percent) in State Government Educational Services, likely caused by the summer break. Employment has grown over the year, as the metro has added 40,885 jobs (2.3 percent) since August 2013. Notable large annual growth occurred in Government (up 16,146 or 7.6 percent), Educational and Health Services (up 8,470 or 2.9 percent on growth of 7,761 in Health Care and Social Assistance), and Manufacturing (7,510, 4.1 percent).
Employment in the Duluth-Superior MSA grew in August as the area added 501 jobs (0.4 percent) over the month, which accounts for over half of their annual employment growth. The increases were spread around in a number of supersectors, with the largest numerical gains coming in Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (up 352, 1.4 percent), Mining, Logging, and Construction (168, 1.7 percent), and Educational and Health Services (134, 0.4 percent). The only supersectors with significant job losses were Leisure and Hospitality (down 213, 1.4 percent), Government (33, 0.1 percent), and Manufacturing (18, 0.2 percent). Annually, the metro has added 947 jobs (0.7 percent). The biggest gains were split between Mining, Logging, and Construction, which added 645 jobs (7 percent) and Educational and Health Services, which added 804 (2.6 percent). The sharpest annual decline came in Leisure and Hospitality which has eliminated 480 jobs (3.2 percent).
Employment in the Rochester MSA ticked upward in August as the metro added 436 jobs (0.4 percent), buoyed by sizeable gains in Manufacturing (up 179, 1.7 percent) and Professional and Business Services (up 122, 2.2 percent). These gains overcame losses of less than 50 jobs in each of three supersectors: Government, Other Services, and Financial Activities. Annually, Rochester added 973 jobs (0.9 percent), with the only losses coming in Mining, Logging, and Construction (down 163 or 4.1 percent), Financial Activities (down 44, 1.7 percent), and Educational and Health Services (down 91, 0.2 percent).
The Saint Cloud MSA rebounded from its July job losses to add 1,586 jobs (1.5 percent) in August. The gains largely came thanks to an increase of 850 (4.3 percent) in Educational and Health Services. Other supersectors to show notable gains: Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (up 312, 1.5 percent), Professional and Business Services (up 239, 2.6 percent), and Leisure and Hospitality (218, 2.4 percent). For the year, employment in the MSA has grown by 3,008 (2.9 percent). Every supersector has shown significant annual growth save Government (down 357, 2.6 percent), Information (down 87, 5.1 percent), and Financial Activities (down 18, 0.4 percent). The largest proportional annual growth occurred in Mining, Logging, and Construction, which added 752 jobs or 13.1 percent.
Employment in the Mankato-North Mankato MSA was largely static in August, dropping 24 jobs (0.0 percent) in monthly estimates. Private sector employment, which added 380 jobs (0.8 percent) was not enough to counter the decline in Government employment (down 404 jobs, 4.7 percent). August's job loss marks three straight months of employment declines for the area. Employment remains up for the year, as the metro has added 1,369 jobs (2.6 percent) over August 2013. Gains were spread among goods producers and service providers.
Employment in the Fargo-Moorhead MSA was static in August as the area gained just 34 jobs (0.0 percent). Goods producers added 336 jobs (1.6 percent), narrowly overcoming the loss of 302 (0.3 percent) among service providers. The single largest over-the-month numerical change came in Professional and Business Services which lost 565 jobs (3.4 percent). Employment in Fargo-Moorhead grew by 5,202 (4.0 percent) over the past 12 months. Manufacturing (down 106 jobs or 1.0 percent) was the only supersector to shed employment over the year. The largest proportional gains came in Mining, Logging, and Construction which added 1,899 jobs (20.8 percent).
Employment was flat in the Grand Forks-East Grand Forks MSA as the metro added just 12 total jobs (0.0 percent) in August. Service providers who added 140 jobs (0.3 percent) balanced out the loss of 128 jobs (1.8 percent) among goods producers. For the year, metro employment has grown slightly, adding 351 jobs (0.7 percent). The Trade, Transportation, and Utilities supersector was up the most, adding 270 jobs (2.3 percent).
