Strong Economy Outpaces US for 4th Consecutive Month

All MSAs saw job gains in past 12 months

In August, the Minnesota unemployment rate climbed 0.1 percent to a seasonally adjusted 3.8 percent. The U.S. unemployment rate was 4.4 percent. 

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. For the fourth consecutive month, Minnesota outpaced the country in over-the-year job growth. Minnesota now has experienced seven years of over-the-year (unadjusted) employment expansion. Read more.

• Trade, transportation and utilities gained 3,200 jobs. Most of the gains were in Wholesale Trade (up 1,500) and Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities (up 1,500), and a small bump in Retail Trade (up 200). Manufacturing was up 800 jobs.
• Leisure and hospitality lost 6,400 jobs. Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (down 2,100) and Accommodation and Food Services (down 4,300) contributed to the seasonally adjusted loss.
• Education and health care was down 5,300 positions, with both Educational Services ( down 2,200) and Health Care and Social Assistance (down 3,100) recording losses.

Continue to full article to learn metropolitan statistics.