by Amanda Rohrer
January 2013
Monthly analysis is based on unadjusted employment data.
Employment in the Twin Cities MSA fell 0.6 percent (11,425) over the month but increased 1.5 percent (25,257) over the year. The loss primarily stemmed from declines in Mining, Logging, and Construction employment of 12.4 percent (7,105) over the month, but the industry was up 1.4 percent (701) over the year. Most other private sector industries saw minor losses of less than 1.0 percent, although a few had small gains. Government employment declined 0.7 percent (1,702) over the month but was up 1.0 percent (2,262) over the year.
Employment in the Duluth MSA increased 0.2 percent (203) over the month and 2.1 percent (2,674) over the year. The largely stable overall employment number disguises some industry-level volatility. Mining, Logging, and Construction fell 6.8 percent (585) over the month, while Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (up 0.9 percent, 213), Financial Activities (up 1.8 percent, 97), and Educational and Health Services (up 0.8 percent, 253) counterbalanced the losses. Government Employment increased 0.5 percent (147) over the month and 3.0 percent (817) over the year.
Employment in the Rochester MSA declined 0.8 percent (872) over the month and increased 0.9 percent (872) over the year. Most of the annual growth came from Educational and Health Services (up 2.0 percent, 816) and from Financial Activities (up 5.4 percent, 133). Financial Activities saw a slight increase over the month but did not significantly offset other losses. The largest monthly declines came from Government, which was down 4.7 percent (523) over the month and down 1.1 percent (121) over the year.
Employment in the St. Cloud MSA declined 0.6 percent (651) over the month but was up 2.8 percent (2,758) over the year. Most industries saw small, seasonally appropriate declines over the month. The exception was Mining, Logging, and Construction (down 8.5 percent, 421), but the industry was up 4.2 percent (182) over the year. Government employment declined 0.1 percent (23) over the month and 2.2 percent (354) over the year. The largest part of the annual decline was in State government (down 4.7 percent, 234).
Employment in the Fargo-Moorhead MSA declined 0.8 percent (1,080) over the month but was up 3.3 percent (4,185) over the year. The declines were evenly split between the private sector (down 0.8 percent, 933) and Government (down 0.8 percent, 147). The largest private sector changes were in Mining, Logging, and Construction (down 7.1 percent, 595) and in Leisure and Hospitality (down 3.4 percent, 483). Those were seasonal decreases, however, and both industries were up over the year, 10.2 percent and 3.8 percent, respectively.
Employment in the Grand Forks-East Grand Forks MSA declined 0.8 percent (425) over the month of December but was up 1.1 percent (573) over the year. The monthly losses were largely driven by Mining, Logging, and Construction (down 7.5 percent, 213), but there were significant declines in Manufacturing (down 2.9 percent, 91), Other Services (down 2.1 percent, 41), and Government (down 0.6 percent, 84). While several industries saw increases, all were of less than 1.0 percent.
