ST. PAUL, MN – Minnesota employers added 9,500 jobs in December, according to figures released today by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).
The December job gains combined with November figures that were revised upward by 1,700 jobs bring total job growth in Minnesota to 45,900 in the past year, a growth rate of 1.7 percent compared with a national rate of 1.6 percent during that period.
The state unemployment rate remained unchanged in December at a seasonally adjusted 4.6 percent, well below the U.S. unemployment rate of 6.7 percent.
State Representative Tom Anzelc (DFL – Balsam Township) says the jobs gains are a positive sign but remains concerned that northeast Minnesota has not recovered from the Great Recession as quickly as other parts of the state.
“DFL policies such as an honestly balanced budget are certainly contributing to the state’s improved economic climate. Hardworking Minnesotans and small businesses deserve our praise as well. However, addressing the large number of individuals and families in northeast Minnesota who have yet to feel this economic recovery is an urgent priority.”
Anzelc says a strong bonding bill is a key ingredient for job creation and economic development in the region.
“It’s going to be a major focus of mine during this year’s Legislative Session,” said Anzelc. “I’m hopeful lawmakers from both sides of the aisle will put aside our differences to create jobs. This is about putting the people above partisanship.”
Trade, transportation and utilities led all sectors last month with 4,600 new jobs. Other gains occurred in government (up 2,600), manufacturing (up 1,700), education and health services (up 1,200), professional and business services (up 1,000), construction (up 400), and logging and mining (up 100).
Job losses occurred in December in leisure and hospitality (down 800), other services (down 700), financial activities (down 500) and information (down 100).
The following sectors added jobs over the past year: trade, transportation and utilities (up 11,800), education and health services (up 10,900), leisure and hospitality (up 6,800), construction (up 6,500), professional and business services (up 4,100), information (up 2,200), government (up 1,800), financial activities (up 1,600), logging and mining (up 500), and other services (up 300).
Manufacturing was the only sector to lose jobs in the past year, down 400 jobs.
In the state Metropolitan Statistical Areas, job gains occurred in the past 12 months in the Minneapolis-St. Paul MSA (up 2 percent), Duluth-Superior MSA (up 1.3 percent), St. Cloud MSA (up 1.1 percent), Rochester MSA (up 0.9 percent) and Mankato MSA (up 0.7 percent).