Minnesota Unemployment at 3.3%

St. Paul – Minnesota’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rose a tenth of a percent during November to 3.3%, according to data released today by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). The national seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for November fell a tenth of a percent to 3.5%.

Minnesota gained 5,911 jobs from November 2018 to November 2019, a 0.2% increase.

The private sector average wage rate went up 18 cents in November for a 5.2% rise over the year.

“The fall and winter months tend to be unpredictable for job growth because of the seasonal effects of weather,” said DEED Commissioner Steve Grove. “Strong wage growth and one of the highest labor force participation rates in the nation both suggest that the state continues to experience a tight labor market.”

The labor force participation rate held at 70.3%. The employment to population ratio also held at 68%.

Five supersectors gained jobs in November. The largest gain was in leisure and hospitality (up 3,800) followed by other services (up 900), professional and business services (up 800), financial activities (up 300), trade transportation and utilities (up 300) and government (up 100).

Supersectors losing jobs in November were; construction (down 4,900), manufacturing (down 2,600), education and health services (down 1,500), information (down 100) and mining and logging (down 100).

The Minneapolis-St. Paul Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) was the only MSA to lose jobs in November (down 5,729).

Mankato MSA gained 1,518 jobs over the month, the largest gain of any Minnesota MSA. Next largest gains came from Rochester MSA (up 1,253), followed by St. Cloud MSA (1,016) and Duluth-Superior (up 12).

Minnesota Employment and Unemployment - November 2019

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally Adjusted (NSA)

Unemployment Rate November 2019 October 2019 November 2019 November 2018

Minnesota 3.3% 3.2% 2.9% 2.3%

U.S. 3.5% 3.6% 3.3% 3.5%

Employment November 2019 October 2019 November '18 to '19 level of Change November '18 to '19 % level of Change

Minnesota 2,966,800 2,969,800 5,911 0.2%

U.S. 152,252,000 151,986,000 2,380,000 1.6%

Minnesota Over the Year Employment Change: November 2018 - November 2019

MN OTY Job Change MN OTY Job Growth Rate US OTY Job Growth Rate

Total nonfarm 5,911 0.2 1.6

Total Private 4,451 0.2 1.7

Logging and Mining 50 0.8 -1.5

Construction -2,296 -1.8 2.9

Manufacturing -1,990 -0.6 0.5

Trade, Transport. and Utilities 2,326 0.4 0.0

Information -3,830 -7.8 3.0

Financial Activities 2,518 1.4 1.3

Prof. and Business Services -4,378 -1.1 2.0

Ed. and Health Services -5,631 -1.0 3.0

Leisure and Hospitality 16,113 6.2 2.8

Other Services 1,569 1.4 1.2

Government 1,460 0.3 1.1

Metropolitan Statistical Area OTY Employment Change – From November 2018 to November 2019

Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) OTY Employment Change (#, NSA) OTY Employment Change (%, NSA)

Minneapolis-St. Paul MN-WI MSA -5,729 -0.3

Duluth-Superior MN-WI MSA 12 0.0

Rochester MSA 1,253 1.0

St. Cloud MSA 1,016 0.9

Mankato MSA 1,518 2.5

Visit the DEED website to see DEED’s 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 information about the agency and its services visit the DEED website or follow DEED on Twitter.