State Unemployment Rate at 3.8 Percent in August

DEED press release header 2016

For Immediate Release
September 14, 2017

Contact: Shane Delaney, 651-259-7236
 shane.m.delaney@state.mn.us

Steve Hine, 651-259-7396
steve.hine@state.mn.us


State Unemployment Rate at
3.8 Percent in August
~Employers cut 6,600 jobs~

ST. PAUL – The Minnesota unemployment rate climbed 0.1 percent in August to a seasonally adjusted 3.8 percent, according to figures released today by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). The U.S. unemployment rate was 4.4 percent in August.

The state lost 6,600 jobs in August, and the number of jobs gained in July was revised downward by 5,100 positions. Over the past year, Minnesota has gained 49,695 jobs, an increase of 1.7 percent. U.S. jobs are up 1.5 percent in the past 12 months.

“The state’s labor market remains fundamentally strong, outpacing the country in over-the-year job growth for the fourth consecutive month in August,” said DEED Commissioner Shawntera Hardy. “Nine of our 11 major industrial sectors have added jobs in the past 12 months.”

The following industries gained jobs in August: trade, transportation and utilities (up 3,200), manufacturing (up 800), professional and business services (up 800), government (up 800), information (up 500) and financial activities (up 200). Logging and mining held steady.

Sectors that lost jobs were leisure and hospitality (down 6,400), education and health services (down 5,300), other services (down 800) and construction (down 400).

In the past year, education and health services has added the most jobs (up 17,280). Other sectors gaining jobs are construction (up 7,247), leisure and hospitality (up 5,628), trade, transportation and utilities (up 5,538), professional and business services (up 4,263), government (up 4,040), manufacturing (up 3,084), other services (up 2,852), and logging and mining (up 720).

Information (down 744) and financial activities (down 213) lost jobs in the past year.

In the Metropolitan Statistical Areas, all regions gained jobs in the past 12 months: Minneapolis-St. Paul MSA (up 2.3 percent), Duluth-Superior MSA (up 2.2 percent), Rochester MSA (up 1.2 percent), St. Cloud MSA (up 1.6 percent) and Mankato MSA (up 2 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

 

Seasonally adjusted

Not seasonally adjusted

 

Unemployment Rate

August     2017

July 2017

August 2017

August 2016

Minnesota  

3.8

3.7

3.6

3.8

U.S.  

4.4

4.3

4.5

5.0

Employment

August 2017

July 2017

Aug. ‘16- Aug. ‘17 Level Change

Aug. ‘16- Aug. ‘17 % Change

Minnesota  

2,948,100

2,954,700

49,695

1.7

U.S.

146,730,000

146,574,000

2,100,000

1.5

 

Over The Year Employment Growth By Industry Sector (NSA)

 

OTY Job Change

OTY Growth Rate (%)

U.S. OTY             Growth Rate (%)

Total Non-Farm Employment

49,695

1.7

1.5

Logging and Mining

720

10.7

8.7

Construction

7,247

5.6

3.0

Manufacturing

3,084

1.0

1.1

Trade, Trans. and Utilities

5,538

1.0

0.4

Information

-744

-1.4

-2.5

Financial Activities

-213

-0.1

1.8

Prof. and Bus. Services

4,263

1.1

3.0

Ed. and Health Services

17,280

3.3

2.1

Leisure and Hospitality

5,628

2.0

2.0

Other Services

2,852

2.4

1.6

Government

4,040

1.0

0.0

 

Metropolitan Statistical Area

OTY Employment Change (#, NSA)

OTY Employment Change (%, NSA)

Minneapolis-St. Paul MN-WI MSA

44,846

2.3

Duluth-Superior MN -WI MSA

3,030

2.2

Rochester MSA

1,444

1.2

St. Cloud MSA

1,752

           1.6

Mankato MSA

1,111

               2.0



                                                            -30-

 

 

Upon request, the information in this news release can be made available in alternative
formats for people with disabilities by contacting the DEED Communications Office at 651-259-7161.


Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
Communications Office
Phone 651-259-7149 or 1-800-657-3858 ∙ TTY 1-800-657-3973
http://mn.gov/deed
An equal opportunity employer and service provider.