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Regional Analysis

by Nick Dobbins
November 2022

Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)

The Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington MSA added 27,672 jobs (1.4%) over the month in October. This was the highest proportional growth of any MSA in the state except Grand Forks. Eight of 10 published supersectors posted monthly growth, with the only declines coming in Mining, Logging, and Construction (down 1,146, 1.2%) and Other Services (down 351, 0.5%). Professional and Business Services employment was up 6,180 (1.8%) with growth of 4,743 (4.2%) in Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services Educational and Health Services added 6,284 jobs (1.8%) with Educational Services up 1,428 jobs (2.9%) and Health Care and Social Assistance up 4,856 jobs (1.6%).

Over the year the metro area added 81,734 jobs or 4.2%. This was the largest proportional annual growth of any MSA in the state, with every supersector posting positive growth. Leisure and Hospitality employment was up 17,796 (11.3%), the largest proportional growth of any supersector, and Professional and Business Services was up 18,645 (5.7%), the largest real job growth. Educational and Health Services employment was up 17,717 (5.2%) with Educational Services up 2,596 (5.4%) and Health Care and Social Assistance up 15,121 (5.2%). Nursing and Residential Care Facilities employment was up 2.3% (1,293 jobs) over the year. Manufacturing employers added 13,400 jobs (6.8%) with Durable Goods employers driving the growth, up 13,077 or 9.7%.

Duluth-Superior MSA

The Duluth-Superior MSA added 1,261 jobs (0.9%) in October. By far the largest share of the growth came from Government employers, which added 1,213 jobs (5.3%) with growth at the state and local levels (up 273 jobs or 3.9%, and 965 jobs or 6.7%, respectively). Trade, Transportation, and Utilities employment was up 172 (0.7%) with growth in all three component sectors, and Educational and Health Services employment was up 151 (0.5%). Four supersectors posted monthly job losses: Leisure and Hospitality was off 249 (1.7%); Mining, Logging, and Construction was off 70 (0.6%); Professional and Business Services was off 21 (0.2%), and Financial Activities lost 2 jobs (0.0%).

On an annual basis the Duluth area added 3,285 jobs or 2.5%. Mining, Logging, and Construction was up 1,113 jobs (10.6%), the largest real and proportional growth of any supersector in the area, and Professional and Business Services employment was up 495 (6.3%). Trade, Transportation, and Utilities added 740 jobs (3.1%) caused primarily by the addition of 667 jobs (4.6%) in Retail Trade. Three supersectors lost jobs on the year, as Government employment was down 231 (0.9%), Financial Activities was down 142 (2.8%), and Information was down 47 (4.5%).

Rochester MSA

The Rochester MSA added 980 jobs or 0.8% in October. This was the tied with St. Cloud for the lowest proportional growth of any MSA primarily in Minnesota. Fargo-Moorhead, which is primarily in North Dakota, was up just 0.4%. Government employers added 355 jobs (2.9%) with most of that growth coming at the Local Government level (up 359 or 3.6%). Educational and Health Services added 425 jobs (0.8%), the largest real job growth of any supersector. Three supersectors posted negative monthly growth, and all three lost fewer than 10 jobs. Professional and Business Services employment was down 0.1%, Information was down 0.2%, and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities lost less than 0.1%, rounded up to 0.0%.

Over the year the Rochester area added 4,444 jobs (3.6%). Leisure and Hospitality was up 9.4% (990 jobs). Educational and Health Services added 1,442 jobs (2.7%); Trade, Transportation, and Utilities added 856 jobs (5.2%); and Mining, Logging, and Construction added 492 jobs (9.1%). Just two of 10 published supersectors lost jobs on the year, as Financial Activities lost 96 jobs (3.4%), and Information lost 46 jobs (3.8%).

St. Cloud MSA

The St. Cloud MSA added 899 jobs or 0.8% over the month in October. This was tied with Rochester for the lowest proportional growth of any MSA primarily in Minnesota. Fargo-Moorhead, which is primarily in North Dakota, was up just 0.4%. Government employers added 451 jobs (3%), which was the largest real and proportional growth of any supersector in the area. Local level employers added 327 jobs (3.6%), and State employers added 130 (3.5%). Leisure and Hospitality employment was up 140 (1.8%). Manufacturing lost 55 jobs (0.4%), and Professional and Business Services lost 44 jobs (0.5%).

Over the year St. Cloud added 2,572 jobs (2.4%). The largest real and proportional growth came in Mining, Logging, and Construction, which added 943 jobs or 11.8%. Trade, Transportation, and Utilities added 815 jobs (3.7%), with that growth driven primarily by Retail Trade (up 814, 6.2%). Three supersectors in the area lost jobs on the year, with the largest real job loss coming in Financial Activities (down 144 jobs or 3.2%).  Manufacturing and Information each lost less than 50 jobs.

Mankato-North Mankato MSA

The Mankato-North Mankato MSA added 749 jobs (1.3%). Service providers drove the growth, adding 674 jobs (1.5%) while goods producers added 75 jobs (0.7%). Public sector employment was up 5% (464 jobs) while private sector employment was up 0.6% (285 jobs).

Over the year the Mankato-North Mankato MSA added 639 jobs or 1.1%. This was the lowest proportional over-the-year growth of any MSA primarily in Minnesota, although higher than both MSAs we share with North Dakota, Grand Forks-East Grand Forks and Fargo-Moorhead. Private sector employers added 726 jobs (1.5%), but that growth was tempered by the loss of 87 jobs (0.9%) among public sector employers.

Fargo-Moorhead MSA

The Fargo-Moorhead MSA added 531 jobs (0.4%) in October. This was the lowest proportional over-the-month growth of any MSA in the state. Leisure and Hospitality added 339 jobs (2.6%), Educational and Health Services added 210 (0.7%), and Manufacturing added 115 (1.1%). Four of 10 published supersectors posted negative growth, with the steepest declines coming in Mining, Logging, and Construction (down 117 or 1.2%) and Professional and Business Services (down 129 or 0.8%).

On the year the Fargo-Moorhead MSA added 1,412 jobs (1%). This was the second-lowest proportional annual growth of any MSA in the state, trailing only Grand Forks. Growth in Manufacturing (up 448 or 4.3%), and Professional and Business Services (up 675 or 4.5%) was offset by losses in Financial Activities (down 878 or 7.5%) and Information (down 117 or 4.1%).

Grand Forks-East Grand Forks MSA

The Grand Forks-East Grand Forks MSA added 994 jobs (1.9%) over the month in October. This was the highest proportional monthly growth of any MSA in the state, contrasted with the other MSA we share with North Dakota, Fargo-Moorhead, which had the lowest proportional growth of any MSA. Growth was driven by Government employers, which added 579 jobs (4.9%), the largest real and proportional growth of any MSA in the area. Only two of 10 published supersectors posted negative growth (Mining, Logging, and Construction and Financial Activities), and both of those lost fewer than 20 jobs.

Over the year the Grand Forks-East Grand Forks MSA added 394 jobs or 0.7%. This was the lowest proportional annual growth of any MSA in the state. Government employers lost 415 jobs or 3.2%. The largest real and proportional positive growth came in Mining, Logging, and Construction, which added 279 jobs or 9.4%.

Total Nonfarm Jobs

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