The Free Press, Mankato, MN

Local News

December 15, 2011

Mankato area continues to show slight increase in job growth

By Tim Krohn Free Press Staff Writer

MANKATO — The greater Mankato area continued to see job growth in November, up 3 percent over last year and 0.3 percent over October.

Blue Earth and Nicollet counties had 53,934 jobs filled — up 1,555 from last November and 179 more than the previous month.

But another trend also continued: Workers are on average putting in fewer hours and getting paid less. Workers averaged 32.5 hours per week, compared to 33.2 hours last year; the average wage fell from $24.08 per hour last year to $22.79 this November.  

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development also reported Thursday that the state’s unemployment rate has taken another big drop, falling to 5.9 percent for November.

Minnesota’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate last month was a half-point lower than in October. The rate dropped even though employers cut 13,700 jobs.

Department commissioner Mark Phillips said the mixed results make it hard to draw conclusions about how well the labor market is performing.

Minnesota’s state unemployment rate compares favorably to the U.S. unemployment rate of 8.6 percent for November.

The biggest sectors for lost jobs in Minnesota were leisure and hospitality, government and construction. Job gains were seen in education and health services, professional and business services and leisure and hospitality sectors.

County unemployment rates will be released next week.

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