Minnesota employers added 5,900 jobs in August, strong growth that defied a nearly flat employment picture on the national level, according to new data from the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).
Minnesota’s growth equated to a 0.2% increase in jobs in August, compared to effectively flat employment for the United States as a whole. Minnesota also added nearly 1,100 workers to its labor force. The unemployment rate increased one tenth of a percentage point to 3.6%, compared to 4.3% nationally and the labor force participation rate is at 68.1% compared to 62.3% nationally.
Over the year, Minnesota gained 39,255 jobs, up nearly 1.3%. The private sector gained 37,692 jobs, up 1.4%. Both figures outpaced national statistics: U.S. employment grew 0.8% over the year, with the private sector up 0.9%.
Comments