by Nick Dobbins
September 2018
Monthly analysis is based on unadjusted employment data.
Employment in the Minneapolis-St. Paul MSA was up by 3,542 (0.2 percent) in August, following a decline of 0.5 percent in July. The over-the-month increase slightly outpaced the state’s 0.1 percent growth. Mining, Logging, and Construction had the largest proportional employment gains of any supersector in the area, up by 2.4 percent (2,236 jobs). The most notable job losses came in Other Services (down 558 or 0.7 percent) and Financial Activities (down 926 or 0.6 percent). Over the year the metro added 40,986 jobs (2 percent), slightly down from June and July’s 2.1 percent over-the-year growth. As was the case over the month, Mining, Logging, and Construction showed the largest proportional expansion, up by 6.6 percent (5,840 jobs) from August of 2017. Other notable expansions included Trade, Transportation, and Utilities, which added 10,838 jobs (3 percent) on the strength of Wholesale Trade’s 4.2 percent growth (4,113 jobs). Leisure and Hospitality added 5,759 jobs (2.9 percent). Information remained the only supersector to lose jobs on the year, off by 958 (2.5 percent).
The Duluth-Superior MSA added 145 jobs (0.1 percent) in August. Only three supersectors showed a change of 1 percent or more. Mining, Logging, and Construction led the growth, adding 251 jobs (2.6 percent), and Government employers added 269 jobs (1.1 percent). The largest proportional over-the-month loss came in Professional and Business Services (off 1 percent or 85 jobs). Educational and Health Services lost the most jobs, shedding 176 (0.6 percent) on the month. Annually the Duluth area added 2,307 jobs (1.7 percent). Once again Mining, Logging, and Construction led the way with 528 additional jobs (5.6 percent). Other Services added 191 jobs (2.9 percent), and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities added 406 (1.6 percent) thanks to an increase of 543 (3.5 percent) in Retail Trade employment. The only supersectors with negative annual growth were Information (down 28 or 2.1 percent) and Professional and Business Services (down 96 or 1.2 percent).
Employment in the Rochester MSA was down by 292 (0.4 percent) in August. It was the largest over-the-month decline of any MSA in the state and in fact the only MSA sitting primarily in Minnesota that lost jobs at all. More supersectors lost jobs than gained them, with the biggest declines coming in Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (down 357 or 2 percent) and Professional and Business Services (down 118, also 2 percent). Over the year the Rochester MSA lost 461 jobs (0.4 percent). This was also the largest over-the-year decline of any MSA in the state. The largest proportional decline came in the Mining, Logging, and Construction supersector, which lost 157 jobs (3.1 percent). Rochester was the only MSA in the state in which the supersector showed negative growth on the year. The largest decrease in terms of real jobs came in Educational and Health Services, where employment was down by 977 or 2 percent. Leisure and Hospitality had the biggest gain, adding 476 jobs or 4.1 percent on the year.
Employment in the Saint Cloud MSA was up by 559 (0.5 percent) in August. Government employers added 305 jobs (2.2 percent) on the strength of 229 more jobs (7.8 percent) at the State Government level, while Leisure and Hospitality added 232 jobs (2.5 percent). Mining, Logging, and Construction employment was down by 43 (0.6 percent). On an over-the-year basis the Saint Cloud MSA added 1,971 jobs (1.8 percent). Manufacturing employers added 845 jobs (5.5 percent), Educational and Health Services added 914 (4.3 percent), and Mining, Logging, and Construction added 253 (3.4 percent). The largest proportional over-the-year decline came in the Information supersector, where employment was off by 62 jobs (3.9 percent).
The Mankato-North Mankato MSA added 1,038 jobs (1.8 percent) in August. This was the largest over-the-month growth of any MSA in the state, continuing the area’s recent strong performance. The growth was driven almost entirely by Government employment, which was up by 12.6 percent (1,023 jobs), after seeing a 19 percent decline in July. Private sector employment was up by 15 total jobs (0.0 percent) on the month. Annually the Mankato-North Mankato MSA added 2,397 jobs (4.3 percent). This was the strongest performance of any MSA in the state. Private sector employers added 1,606 jobs (3.3 percent) with growth split between Goods Producers and Service Providers, while Government employers added 791 jobs (9.5 percent).
Employment in the Fargo-Moorhead MSA was up by 607 (0.4 percent) in August. Trade, Transportation, and Utilities added 414 jobs (1.4 percent), and Government employers added 269 jobs (1.7 percent). The largest decline, by proportion and total jobs lost, came in Professional and Business Services (down 250 or 1.5 percent). Annually the Fargo-Moorhead MSA added 1,655 jobs (1.2 percent). Educational and Health Services added 937 jobs (3.9 percent), and Mining, Logging, and Construction added 298 (3.0 percent). Leisure and Hospitality employment was down 122 (0.9 percent) for the year.
The Grand Forks-East Grand Forks MSA lost 10 jobs (0.1 percent) in August. No supersector showed employment growth or contraction of greater than 1 percent. The biggest decline came in Educational and Health Services (1 percent), and the largest gain came in Leisure and Hospitality (59 jobs, 1 percent). On the year the MSA added 232 jobs (0.4 percent). Government employers lost 329 jobs (2.7 percent), with most of those losses coming at the state level. Manufacturing added 177 jobs (4.1 percent), and Leisure and Hospitality added 204 (3.4 percent).
