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Legislative News and Views - Rep. JoAnn Ward (DFL)

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Rep. Ward: Positive jobs report shows Minnesota is on the right track

Friday, September 19, 2014

St. Paul, MN – Minnesota employers added 6,100 jobs in August, according to seasonally adjusted figures released on Thursday, September 18 by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).

When these gains are combined with the July numbers (which were revised from 4,200 jobs lost to 100 jobs lost), our state has gained 13, 200 jobs in this calendar year. Over the past twelve months, jobs in our state have grown at 2%, compared with a nationwide growth rate of 1.8% (56,311 total jobs added.)
 
Additionally, the state unemployment rate fell to 4.3 percent in August, the lowest unemployment rate in the state in nearly eight years. In comparison, the U.S. unemployment rate in August was 6.1 percent.
 
“All results show that our economy is on the right track,” said State Representative JoAnn Ward (DFL – Woodbury). “According to national assessments, we’re the sixth best state for business, the third best state for making a living, and our metropolitan region has the lowest unemployment rate of other similar metro regions across the country.”

“We’ve come a long way in the past two years – but Minnesotans are a hard-working, forward-looking bunch, and we always strive to do even better and to prepare for future uncertainties. Our state’s small businesses and talented workforce are well-positioned for success: right now and into the future. When we work together and keep our eyes on our common good, everything is possible.”

Rep. Ward encourages her constituents to contact her with any questions or comments about the August jobs report. She can be reached by phone at (651) 296-7807, by email at rep.joann.ward@house.mn or by postal mail at 531 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155.