by Nick Dobbins
August 2019
Monthly analysis is based on unadjusted employment data.
The Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington MSA lost 12,379 jobs (0.6 percent) in July. Declines are common in July, and metro area job growth actually beat the statewide -0.8 percent over the month change. The area’s job losses were largely concentrated in the Government supersector which shed 13,584 jobs (5.5 percent), with almost all of that decline coming from the Local Government component (down 15,467 or 9.3 percent). Drilling deeper, that loss came entirely from Educational Services, which lost 16,009 jobs (17.6 percent) as schools let out for the summer. When we remove Government employers from the equation, the metro area actually gained jobs on the month, with notable growth coming in Mining, Logging, and Construction (up 1,776 or 1.9 percent) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (up 1,895, 0.5 percent). Annually the metro area added 2,879 jobs (0.1 percent). This was the weakest over-the-year job growth of any MSA entirely in Minnesota. The only MSA in Minnesota to lose jobs on the year was Grand Forks-East Grand Forks. Mining, Logging, and Construction added 3,994 jobs (4.4 percent), the largest proportional growth in the area. The Information supersector lost 2.4 percent (919 jobs), the largest proportional decline, and Educational and Health Services lost 3,316 jobs (1 percent), the largest real job loss. In all, six of the 10 published supersectors in the area lost jobs on the year.
The Duluth-Superior MSA lost 943 jobs (0.7 percent) in July, as schools in the area let out for the summer, and Government employment dropped by 1,967 (7.7 percent). Seven of 10 supersectors added jobs, with Leisure and Hospitality up 417 (2.6 percent) and Mining, Logging, and Construction adding 322 (2.9 percent). Over the year the Duluth area added 1,008 jobs (0.7 percent). Mining, Logging, and Construction continued to drive the growth, adding 1,158 jobs (11.5 percent). Leisure and Hospitality added 428 (2.7 percent). On the other side Trade, Transportation, and Utilities lost the most jobs on the year, off by 485 (2 percent), with most of that loss coming from the component Retail Sales sector. The long-struggling Information supersector had the largest proportional decline in Duluth, off by 4.4 percent (58 jobs).
The Rochester MSA lost 629 jobs (0.5 percent) in July. This was the lowest proportional over-the-month job loss of any MSA primarily in Minnesota. No MSAs added jobs, and employment in the state was off by 0.8 percent. Government employers lost 606 jobs (4.5 percent), and Educational and Health Services lost 680 (1.3 percent). Manufacturing added 434 jobs (3.8 percent). On the year the Rochester area added 1,686 jobs (1.4 percent). Manufacturing led the way, adding 674 jobs or 6.1 percent, the largest real and proportional gain in the area. Educational and Health Services added 406 jobs (0.8 percent), and Mining, Logging, and Construction added 214 (4.1 percent). Leisure and Hospitality employment was off by 101 jobs (0.8 percent).
The Saint Cloud MSA lost 855 jobs (0.8 percent) in July. Government employers lost 1,150 jobs (7.7 percent). Mining, Logging, and Construction employment was up by 176 (2.1 percent). On the year the MSA added 1,647 jobs (1.5 percent). It was the largest over-the-year increase of any MSA that is primarily in Minnesota. The gains were driven by the addition of 889 jobs (11.4 percent) in Mining, Logging, and Construction and 727 (3.4 percent) in Educational and Health Services. The largest proportional decline came in Leisure and Hospitality which was off by 3 percent or 261 jobs.
The Mankato-North Mankato MSA lost 1,776 jobs (3 percent) in July. It was the largest over-the-year decline of any MSA entirely in the state although Grand Forks-East Grand Forks was higher. Government was the only published series to lose jobs, off by 1,935 (19.3 percent) as schools let out for the summer. Annually the MSA added 541 jobs (1 percent). Private sector employers added 406 jobs (0.8 percent) while public sector employers added 135 (1.7 percent).
The Fargo-Moorhead MSA lost 1,764 jobs (1.2 percent) in July. As was the case across the state, Government employment led the declines, off by 2,393 jobs (12.8 percent), as schools in the area let out for the summer. Mining, Logging, and Construction employment was up by 514 (5.5 percent). Over the year the MSA added 865 jobs (0.6 percent). Educational and Health Services added 914 jobs (3.7 percent), and Professional and Business Services added 640 (3.9 percent).
The Grand Forks-East Grand Forks MSA lost 2,127 jobs (3.8 percent) in July. This was the largest over-the-month decline of any published MSA in Minnesota. The only published supersectors to add jobs were Mining, Logging, and Construction (up by 78 or 2.4 percent) and Information (up by 3 or 0.6 percent). Over the year the MSA lost 446 jobs (0.8 percent). It was once again the only MSA in the state to lose jobs on the year. Trade, Transportation, and Utilities was off by 383 (3.5 percent) thanks to the loss of 452 jobs (6.4 percent) in Retail Trade. Government employers shed 389 jobs (3.3 percent), primarily at the state level.
