By Nick Dobbins
April 2021
Monthly analysis is based on unadjusted employment data.
The Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington MSA added 19,269 jobs or 1% over the month in March. This was the best proportional over-the-month growth of any MSA primarily in Minnesota and tied with Mankato, but it trailed Fargo-Moorhead's 1.9% growth. Mining, Logging, and Construction led all supersectors in both real and proportional growth (up 6,676 or 9.3%) as the declines of last month (down 5.4%) proved to be temporary and likely at least partially influenced by unseasonable weather. Seven of 10 supersectors added jobs on the month. The largest over-the-month decline, in both real and proportional terms, came among Government employers, which shed 3,022 jobs or 1.2%. The declines came entirely at the Local Government level, which was down 3,154 or 2%.
Over the year the metro area lost 134,677 jobs or 6.7%. This was the worst over-the-year growth mark of any MSA in the state, lagging Minnesota's 5.7% over-the-year decline. Losses were worst in Leisure and Hospitality (down 48,928 or 27.4%) followed by Other Services (down 12.2% or 9,504 jobs). Every supersector save one in the MSA lost jobs on the year, as Mining, Logging, and Construction added 483 jobs (0.6%). The next best over-the-year proportional growth came in Financial Activities, which was down 0.6% or 988 jobs, as growth in Finance and Insurance (up 0.2% or 260 jobs) tempered the loss of 1,248 jobs (4.5%) in Real Estate and Rental and Leasing.
The Duluth-Superior MSA lost 233 jobs (0.2%) in March. This was the worst over-the-month performance of any MSA in the state and the only MSA to post negative job growth in March. Government employers drove the monthly decline, shedding 1,001 jobs (3.9 percent) with those losses coming entirely at the Local Government level (down 1,109 or 6.7%). The only other supersectors to shed jobs on the month were Educational and Health Services, Professional and Business Services, and Financial Activities, which lost 64 total jobs combined. The largest real and proportional monthly growth came in Mining, Logging, and Construction, which added 333 jobs or 4.2%.
Over the year the Duluth area lost 7,555 jobs (5.6%), slightly better than the statewide loss of 5.7%. The largest proportional decline was in Other Services, which was down 14.8% (952 jobs). Government employers lost 2,899 jobs (10.6%), and Leisure and Hospitality employment was off by 1,630 jobs or 12.2%. Two supersectors in Duluth added jobs on the year. Trade, Transportation, and Utilities employment was up 0.3% or 70 jobs, thanks to strength in Retail Trade (up 395 or 2.7%), and Mining, Logging, and Construction was up 0.2% (19 jobs).
The Rochester MSA added 601 jobs or 0.5% over the month in March, slightly behind the statewide growth of 0.9%. Mining, Logging, and Construction was up 3.4% (142 jobs), and Manufacturing was up 2.8% (270 jobs). Four supersectors lost jobs, with the only over-the-month decline of more than 100 jobs coming in Educational and Health Services (down 153 or 0.3%). The largest proportional decline came in Financial Activities, which was down 0.5% (14 jobs).
Over the year the Rochester MSA lost 5,675 jobs or 4.6%. This was the best proportional over-the-year change of any MSA primarily in Minnesota, although it trailed the Fargo-Moorhead area, where employment was down 1.8%. Every supersector but one still lost jobs on the year (Professional and Business Services, up 1.8% or 99 jobs). The largest decline was still in Leisure and Hospitality, off by 20.9% or 2,269 jobs.
The St. Cloud MSA added 418 jobs (0.4%) over the month in March. Mining, Logging, and Construction employment was up 4.1% (258 jobs), and Manufacturing employment was up 3.7% (512 jobs). The largest decline, in real and proportional terms, came in Trade, Transportation, and Utilities, which was down 0.8% or 162 jobs. The losses came entirely from Retail Trade (down 232 or 1.9%) as both of the other component sectors posted positive monthly growth.
Over the year St. Cloud lost 5,350 jobs (4.9%). Two supersectors, however, posted positive annual growth. Mining, Logging, and Construction was up a strong 5.2% or 325 jobs, and Government employment was up 0.2% or 36 jobs. Notable declines came in Leisure and Hospitality (down 24.5% or 1,931 jobs), Manufacturing (down 6.6%, 1,001 jobs), and Educational and Health Services (down 4.4%, 1,002 jobs).
The Mankato-North Mankato MSA added 536 jobs or 1% over the month in March. This was the largest proportional growth of any MSA primarily in Minnesota, tied with the Minneapolis-St. Paul MSA but trailing Fargo-Moorhead's 1.9% growth. Goods producers drove the growth, up 1.6% or 148 jobs, while employment in service providing industries was up 0.9% or 388 jobs.
Over the year the Mankato area lost 2,922 jobs or 5%. Private sector employment was off by 5.5% (2,641 jobs) while public sector employment was down 2.8% (281 jobs).
The Fargo-Moorhead MSA added 2,573 jobs (1.9%) in March. This was the largest proportional growth of any MSA in Minnesota. The increase was driven by Mining, Logging, and Construction, which was up 14.3% or 1,165 jobs. Professional and Business Services was up 511 jobs, or 3.9%.
Over the year the Fargo-Moorhead area lost 2,598 jobs or 1.8%. This was the best proportional over-the-year growth rate of any MSA in the state. Mining, Logging, and Construction was up by 24.1% over the year (1,807 jobs), almost single-handedly holding down the declines that were present in seven of the 10 published supersectors.
The Grand Forks-East Grand Forks MSA added 338 jobs or 0.7% in March. Leisure and Hospitality was up 326 (6.6%), and Mining, Logging, and Construction was up 139 (6%). Information employment was down 1.9% (8 jobs), and Professional and Business Services was down 1.8% (56 jobs).
Over the year the Grand Forks-East Grand Forks area lost 2,657 jobs or 4.9%. Every supersector lost jobs on the year, with the biggest proportional declines coming in Professional and Business Services (down 11.1% or 379 jobs) and the largest real job losses coming in Leisure and Hospitality (down 585 jobs or 10%).
