ST. PAUL, MN – Minnesota employers added 10,300 jobs in May, according to figures released today by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).
The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped to 4.6 percent, the lowest in seven years. The U.S. unemployment rate in May was 6.3 percent.
“This strong jobs report is another sign that Minnesota’s economy is getting stronger,” said State Representative Peter Fischer (DFL – Maplewood). “Minnesotans have every reason to feel optimistic about our future thanks to our great employers, well-educated workforce and the legislature’s refreshing decision to put middle-class families ahead of wealthy special interests. Maintaining that approach is vital to building on our positive momentum in the years ahead.”
Professional and business services led all sectors in May, adding 4,100 jobs. That was followed by construction (up 3,800), manufacturing (up 2,900), information (up 900), other services (up 500), and trade, transportation and utilities (up 100). Logging and mining was unchanged.
The following sectors lost jobs: government (down 1,300), leisure and hospitality (down 500), financial activities (down 100), and education and health services (down 100).
Over the past year, construction added the most jobs and grew at the fastest pace of any industry in the state. The sector added 9,447 jobs in the last 12 months, a 9.2 percent growth rate, compared with a 3.3 percent growth rate in the U.S. construction industry.
Other sectors that grew in the past year were manufacturing (up 9,404), education and health services (up 8,917), professional and business services (up 8,677), leisure and hospitality (up 5,736), government (up 2,158), trade, transportation and utilities (up 1,600), other services (up 541), information (up 462), and logging and mining (up 261).