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State Gains 5,300 Jobs in March
Private sector surpasses 2.5 million jobs
for the first time in state history
Statewide unemployment rates drops to 3.8%
ST. PAUL – Minnesota employers added 5,300 jobs in March, according to seasonally adjusted figures announced today by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). With these gains, Minnesota’s private sector has 2,504,400 jobs, surpassing 2.5 million jobs for the first time in state history. The state exceeded 2 million private sector jobs in July 1995.
In addition, the agency said February’s job gains were revised from 3,800 jobs gained to 6,200 jobs gained. Over the past year, the state has gained 48,162 jobs, a growth rate of 1.7 percent. U.S. job growth during that period was 1.5 percent. Since January 2011, Minnesota has gained 268,000 jobs.
Minnesota’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped in March to 3.8 percent. The U.S. unemployment rate was 4.5 percent in March.
“Thanks to the hardworking Minnesotans and businesses who call our state home, our economy continues to improve and outpace the nation,” said Governor Mark Dayton. “This year, I have proposed investments in education and economic opportunity to help ensure our economy works for everyone, everywhere in our state.”
“Surpassing 2.5 million private sector jobs is a wonderful achievement and is a fitting testament to businesses large and small all across the state,” said DEED Commissioner Shawntera Hardy. “Minnesota’s economy continues to move in the right direction, bringing opportunities for prosperity and independence to more Minnesotans.”
Professional and business services led the gains with a 4,900 job surge, followed by a strong 2,500 job jump in leisure and hospitality.
The following industries lost jobs: trade, transportation, and utilities (down 2,500), education and health care (down 1,400), and construction (down 900). Government jobs remained steady.
Over the past year, education and health services gained 17,413 jobs, followed by trade, transportation and utilities (up 7,578), professional and business services (up 6,582), construction (up 5,567), government (up 3,046), financial activities (up 3,962), other services (up 3,487), logging and mining (up 861), information (up 629) and manufacturing (up 424).
The only sector to lose jobs in the past 12 months is leisure and hospitality (down 1,387).
In the Metropolitan Statistical Areas, the following regions gained jobs in the past 12 months: Minneapolis-St. Paul MSA (up 2.1 percent), Rochester MSA (up 0.5 percent), St. Cloud MSA (up 1.0 percent) and Duluth-Superior MSA (up 0.8 percent). The Mankato MSA lost jobs (down 0.3 percent).
DEED has added a section to its website that examines the unemployment rate by demographics (race, age and gender) and looks at alternative measures of unemployment.
DEED is the state’s principal economic development agency, promoting business recruitment, expansion and retention, workforce development, international trade and community development. For more details about the agency and its services, visit the DEED website or follow DEED on Twitter.
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Seasonally adjusted
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Not seasonally adjusted
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Unemployment Rate
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March 2017
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February 2017
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March 2017
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February 2016
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Minnesota
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3.8
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4.0
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U.S.
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4.5
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4.7
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Employment
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March 2017
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February 2017
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March ‘16- March ‘17 Level Change
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March ‘16- March ‘17 % Change
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Minnesota
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48,162
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1.7
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U.S.
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1.5
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Over The Year Employment Growth By Industry Sector (NSA)
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OTY Job Change
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OTY Growth Rate (%)
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U.S. OTY Growth Rate (%)
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Total Non-Farm Employment
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48,162
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1.7
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1.5
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Logging and Mining
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861
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15.1
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0.4
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Construction
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5,567
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5.6
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2.9
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Manufacturing
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424
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0.1
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0.3
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Trade, Trans. and Utilities
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7,578
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1.5
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0.6
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Information
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629
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1.3
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-1.3
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Financial Activities
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3,962
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2.3
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2.2
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Prof. and Bus. Services
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6,582
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1.8
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3.2
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Ed. and Health Services
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17,413
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3.4
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2.3
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Leisure and Hospitality
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-1,387
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-0.6
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1.6
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Other Services
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3,487
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3.0
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1.0
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Government
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3,046
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0.7
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0.6
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Metropolitan Statistical Area
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OTY Employment Change (#, NSA)
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OTY Employment Change (%, NSA)
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Minneapolis-St. Paul MN-WI MSA
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39,996
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2.1
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Duluth-Superior MN -WI MSA
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1,108
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0.8
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Rochester MSA
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558
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0.5
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St. Cloud MSA
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1,097
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1.0
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Mankato MSA
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-171
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-0.3
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-30-
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