State Unemployment Numbers Fall for March

(KNSI) – Minnesota’s unemployment rate has fallen again for March.

The state Department of Employment and Economic Development says, Minnesota’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped to 4.2% in March, down from a revised 4.4% in February.

According to a DEED press release, “It’s good to see Minnesota’s job growth reach its highest levels since the beginning of the pandemic, but we still have a long ways to go,” said DEED Commissioner Steve Grove. “There are over 100,000 job postings in the state, and we need to make sure more Minnesotans are aware of these opportunities to get back into the labor force. At DEED, we are continuing extensive outreach to unemployed Minnesotans to let them know about opportunities for in-demand jobs with local employers who are hiring now.”

Bolstered by booms in construction, Minnesota gained 21,600 jobs, up 0.8%, in March on a seasonally adjusted basis.

Construction +7,900 jobs
Professional and business services +5,500 jobs
Leisure and hospitality +4,300 jobs
Trade, transportation, and utilities +3,900
Manufacturing +1,900 jobs
Other services +400 jobs
Education and health services +300

Losses were in government, which ended down 1,700 jobs. Financial activities and the information sector also posted total losses of 900 jobs.

This puts Minnesota 19,900 jobs above the state’s previous pandemic peak in October 2020. The private sector gained 23,300 jobs, up 1.0%, bringing private sector employment 21,700 jobs above its October 2020 level. The U.S. gained 916,000 jobs, up 0.6% over the month, in March on a seasonally adjusted basis.

The St. Cloud Metropolitan Statistical Area saw a year-over-year loss of 5,350 jobs or a change of -4.9%.

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