The Free Press, Mankato, MN

Local News

September 20, 2012

State job gains continue, though slowly

— Though state employers eliminated 2,000 jobs in August, job gains in

Minnesota over the past year reflect a growth rate of 0.9 percent.



The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development said in its

monthly job report Thursday that the state¹s unemployment rate climbed 0.1

percent in August, to a seasonally adjusted 5.9 percent.



That remains well below the U.S. jobless rate of 8.1 percent.



DEED Commissioner Mark Phillips said despite the solid job gains the labor

market is still struggling to find its footing.



"The long-term trend remains positive, however, with the majority of

businsess sectors reporting job growth over the past year."



The Mankato/North Mankato Metropolitan Statistical Area has shown a 1

percent jobs gain over the past 12 months.



By comparison, the St. Cloud MSA had a 2.5 percent gain, the Rochester MSA

had a 0.1 percent gain, and the Duluth-Superior MSA experienced job losses

of 1.5 percent.

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