Minnesota Adds Jobs, Unemployment Rate Unchanged
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP/WCCO) -- Minnesota employers added 7,200 jobs in June, stopping a three-month stretch of job losses.
The jobless rate stayed at 5.6 percent for a third month, according to seasonally adjusted figures released Thursday by the Department of Employment and Economic Development.
"That follows three months over which we lost 5,600," said Steve Hine, Research Director for DEED. "This 7,200 has not been our average. In fact, since January, we've only averaged (a monthly gain) of 1,500 jobs."
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Commissioner Mark Phillips says the state is producing jobs at a steady pace despite an uneven labor market in recent months.
Minnesota's unemployment rate remained significantly below the national rate of 8.2 percent in June.
June job gains in the state were led by professional and business services, government, manufacturing and information sectors. Areas that lost jobs included leisure and hospitality, education and health services and construction.
The department also revised May's job losses from 900 to 4,700.
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