St. Paul, MN – Minnesota employers added 6,300 jobs in September according to data from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). The state's unemployment rate increased slightly to 3.4%, which is lower than the national rate of 4.1%. And Minnesota's labor force participation rate held steady for the third month in a row at 67.7%, one of the highest in the country.

"This was another strong month for Minnesota's jobs market," said DEED Commissioner Matt Varilek. "With ongoing job growth, low unemployment, wages outpacing inflation and high labor force participation, plus surging exports and record business expansions, the Minnesota economy is robust entering the final quarter of the year – even as we partner with the business community, higher education, nonprofits and others to address challenges including the ongoing workforce shortage."

Four of the 11 supersectors in Minnesota added jobs last month, led by growth in Government (up 3,600 jobs, or 0.8%), Professional & Business Services (up 2,300 jobs, or 0.6%), Education & Health Services (up 1,600 jobs, or 0.3%) and Trade, Transportation and Utilities (up 1,200 jobs, or 0.2%).

Four supersectors lost jobs, including Financial Activities, down 700 jobs; Information, down 600 jobs; Other Services, down 600 jobs; and Manufacturing, down 500 jobs.

To grow jobs and Minnesota's economy, DEED is focused on high-growth sectors and highlighting untapped pools of workers to join the labor force. During Manufacturing Month and National Disability Employment Awareness Month in October, the agency is working to bolster the manufacturing industry – a critical backbone of Minnesota with more than 93,000 job openings projected for manufacturing production positions through 2032 – and to increase the number of skilled and work-ready Minnesotans from all communities in the labor force. 

Minnesota gained 37,566 jobs over the year, up 1.3%, which is slightly slower than the national rate of 1.5%.

Wages continued to grow significantly faster than inflation. The average private sector hourly wage rose to $38.00 in September in Minnesota. Over-the-year average hourly earnings increased $1.79, up 4.9% in the state – more than twice the rate of inflation at 2.4%.

"It's positive to see ongoing strong wage growth in Minnesota that continues to outpace inflation," said Labor Market Information Director Angelina Nguyen. "This is critical for our efforts to attract workers to Minnesota and address the ongoing workforce shortage from a variety of angles."

Visit the DEED website to view state and national employment statistics, monthly jobs numbers and data. You can also find alternative measures of unemployment. In addition, find related articles about job growth and labor market changes in the latest issue of Minnesota Employment Trends. Access resources to help Minnesotans prepare for and find employment now at CareerForceMN.