By Nick Dobbins
May 2024
Employment in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington MSA was up by 1% (18,818 jobs) over the month) in April. The largest proportional growth came in Mining, Logging, and Construction, which was up by 9.9% or 7,272 jobs. Leisure and Hospitality was up 2.3% (4,065 jobs). There was growth in every published component series, with the largest growth coming in Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (up 6.4%, or 2,117 jobs). Overall, seven of 10 published supersectors posted positive growth. The largest real and proportional declines were in Other Services, which was off by 753 jobs or 1%, as Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, and Professional Organizations lost 525 jobs (1.3%). Government employers lost 585 jobs (0.2%) with most of those losses coming at the Local Government level (down 1,398 or 0.8%).
Over the year employers in the metro area added 21,168 jobs or 1.1%. Five supersectors added jobs, and five lost jobs on the year. The largest real and proportional growth was in Government employment, which was up 19,517 jobs or 7.9%, with growth at every level of government. Educational and Health Services added 16,739 jobs (4.8%), with growth entirely in Health Care and Social Assistance (up 17,362 jobs or 5.7%). The largest proportional declines came in Information, which was off by 5% (1,424 jobs). Professional and Business Services was down 11,773 jobs (3.9%) with declines in all three major component sectors. Mining, Logging, and Construction was down 4.5% or 3,773 jobs. Specialty Trade Contractors lost 3,365 jobs or 6%.
The Duluth-Superior MSA added 290 jobs (0.2%) in April. This was the lowest monthly proportional growth of any MSA in the state. The largest real and proportional growth was in Mining, Logging, and Construction, which added 282 jobs or 3.3%. Leisure and Hospitality employment was up by 245 or 1.8%. Just three supersectors lost jobs on the month, but the largest real job movement in either direction was the loss of 387 jobs (1.6%) in Government employment, all of which came at the Local Government level (off by 491 jobs, or 3.1%).
Over the year the Duluth MSA added 77 jobs or 0.1%. This was the lowest annual proportional growth of any MSA in the state. Mining, Logging, and Construction lost 730 jobs (7.7%), the largest proportional decline of any supersector, while Government employers lost 1,659 jobs (6.4%), the largest real job loss. Overall, six of 10 published supersectors added jobs. Educational and Health Services added 952 jobs (3.1%), the largest real job gain. Trade, Transportation and Utilities added 847 jobs (3.6%) with Retail Trade up 582 (4%) and Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities up 194 (3.1%). The largest proportional growth came in Other Services, which was up 5% or 301 jobs.
Employment in the Rochester MSA was up by 1,278 (1%) over the month. Eight of 10 published supersectors added jobs on the month, with the only losses coming in Other Services (down 59 jobs or 1.55) and Information (down 1 job, 0.1%). The largest real job growth came in Educational and Health Services, which added 772 jobs (1.4%), while the largest proportional growth was in Mining, Logging, and Construction (up 2.9% or 133 jobs). Leisure and Hospitality employers added 169 jobs or 1.6%.
Over the year employers in the Rochester area added 4,357 jobs or 3.5%. This was the largest proportional growth of any MSA in the state. Growth was driven by Educational and Health Services, which added 4,564 jobs or 8.6%. Government employers added 569 jobs or 4.4%. Overall, seven of 10 published supersectors in the area lost jobs on the year. The largest real and proportional loss came in Mining, Logging, and Construction, which was off by 239 jobs or 4.9%.
The St. Cloud MSA added 835 jobs (0.8%) in April. All but one supersector added jobs on the month, with the only negative growth appearing in Other Services, which was off by 54 jobs or 1.3%. Mining, Logging, and Construction employers added 285 jobs (4%), which was the largest real and proportional growth of any supersector. Manufacturing was up 194 jobs or 1.3%, and Leisure and Hospitality was up 122 or 1.6%.
Over the year the St. Cloud area added 1,080 jobs or 1%. Five supersectors added jobs, and five lost jobs. Educational and Health Services was up 946 jobs or 4.3%. Trade, Transportation, and Utilities added 743 jobs or 3.4%, with growth in all three component sectors. The biggest proportional job losses in the MSA came in Professional and Business Services, which was off by 260 jobs or 3.6%, while the largest real job loss was in Manufacturing, which was down by 460 or 3%.
The Mankato-North Mankato MSA added 552 jobs (1%) over the month of April. Goods producers added 184 jobs (1.8%), and service providers added 610 jobs (1.3%). The only published series to post negative growth was Government, which was down by 58 jobs or 0.6%.
Over the year the Mankato-North Mankato MSA added 287 jobs or 0.5%. Goods producers added 130 jobs (1.3%), and service providers added 157 jobs (0.3%). Private sector employment was up by 330 (0.7%), while public sector employment was down by 43 (0.4%).
Employment in the Fargo-Moorhead MSA was up by 1,818 (1.2%) in April. Eight of 10 published supersectors added jobs on the month. Mining, Logging, and Construction was up 616 (6.7%), Leisure and Hospitality was up 585 (4.2%), and Educational and Health Services was up 284 (1%). The two supersectors that lost jobs, Information and Other Services, were both down fewer than 50 jobs and less than 1%.
Over the year employers in Fargo-Moorhead added 3,435 jobs or 2.3%. The largest real and proportional gains were in Educational and Health Services, which was up 1,561 jobs or 5.5%. Trade, Transportation, and Utilities was up 1,052 (3.4%), with growth in all three published component sectors. The largest proportional declines were in Information, which was off by 10.6% or 278 jobs. Professional and Business Services lost 332 jobs or 2.3%.
The Grand Forks-East Grand Forks MSA added 244 jobs (0.5%) in April. Six of 10 published supersectors added jobs. Mining, Logging, and Construction was up 153 or 5.5%, which was the largest proportional change and the only real job growth, positive or negative, over 100. The steepest declines were in Leisure and Hospitality, which was off by 64 jobs or 1.5%.
Over the year the Grand Forks-East Grand Forks MSA added 1,444 jobs or 2.7%. All but one published supersector added jobs on the year (Financial Activities, down 8 jobs or 0.5%). Mining, Logging, and Construction was up 235 or 8.7%. Government employers added 741 jobs or 5.6%, with growth at all three levels of government. Manufacturers in the area added 107 jobs or 2.5%.
