Regional Analysis

by Nick Dobbins
April 2025

Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)

Employment in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington MSA was up by 3,490 (0.2%) over the month in March. Six of 10 published supersectors added jobs on the month. The largest real and proportional gains were in Mining, Logging, and Construction, which was up 3.3% (2,557 jobs) caused in large part by the addition of 2,015 jobs (4.1%) in Specialty Trade Contractors. Educational and Health Services added 2,200 jobs (0.6%), and Leisure and Hospitality added 1,438 jobs (0.8%). The largest real job loss was in Government (down 1,248 jobs or 0.5%, with losses at all three levels of government), and the largest proportional job loss was in Other Services (off 1.1% or 855 jobs, with losses in all published component sectors).

On an annual basis employers in the metro area added 12,336 jobs or 0.6%. Five supersectors added jobs on the year, and five lost jobs. The largest real and proportional growth in the area came in Educational and Health Services, which added 14,837 jobs or 4.1%, with most of that growth coming in Health Care and Social Assistance (up 14,738, 4.7%). Every published component sector added jobs on the year. Government employers added 7,259 jobs, or 2.8%, with growth at the state and local levels. The largest real and proportional decline was in Leisure and Hospitality, which was off 4% or 7,060 jobs. Financial Activities lost 2,666 jobs or 1.9%.

Duluth-Superior MSA

Employers in the Duluth-Superior MSA added 329 jobs or 0.2% in March. Growth was driven by Mining, Logging, and Construction, which added 348 jobs or 4.1%. Leisure and Hospitality added 217 jobs or 1.6%. The largest real job loss was in Trade, Transportation, and Utilities, which shed 193 jobs (0.8%). Retail Trade was off by 91 (0.6%), and Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities lost 129 jobs (2%). Five supersectors added jobs, and five lost jobs on the month.

Over the year Duluth-area employers lost 462 jobs or 0.3%. Government employers shed 761 jobs (2.9%) with much of that decline coming at the local level (down 833 jobs or 4.8%). Trade, Transportation, and Utilities lost 193 jobs (0.8%), Leisure and Hospitality lost 177 jobs (1.3%), and Other Services lost 142 jobs (2.3%). The largest proportional decline was in Information (off 4.6% or 45 jobs).  The largest real job growth in the area came in Educational and Health Services (up 488 or 1.5%). Mining, Logging, and Construction was up 214 (2.5%), and Professional and Business Services added 165 jobs (2.2%).

Rochester MSA

Employers in the Rochester MSA added 628 jobs (0.5%) over the month of March. This was the largest proportional monthly growth of any MSA primarily in Minnesota. Seven supersectors added jobs while three lost jobs on the month. The largest real job growth was in Educational and Health Services (up 267, 0.4%), and the largest proportional job growth was in Mining, Logging, and Construction (up 3% or 149 jobs). Trade, Transportation, and Utilities lost 46 jobs (0.3%), and Other Services lost 44 jobs (1.1%).

Over the year employers in the Rochester area added 5,790 jobs or 4.7%. It was the highest proportional annual job growth of any MSA primarily in Minnesota. Growth was driven by Educational and Health Services, which added 5,424 jobs or 9.9%. Only two supersectors in Rochester lost jobs on the year. Leisure and Hospitality was off by 442 (4%), and Information lost 50 jobs (4.8%).

St. Cloud MSA

Employers in the St. Cloud MSA added 386 jobs or 0.4% over the month. The largest real and proportional growth was in Mining, Logging, and Construction, which added 294 jobs or 4.1%. Overall, six of 10 published supersectors added jobs on the month. The largest real job loss was in Government (off by 85 or 0.5%), and the largest proportional decline was in Other Services (down 1.3% or 54 jobs).

St. Cloud employers added 518 jobs (0.5%) over the year in March. Six supersectors added jobs, and four lost jobs. The largest real job growth was in Educational and Health Services (up 749 jobs or 3.3%), and the largest proportional growth was in Mining, Logging, and Construction (up 3.9% or 278 jobs). The largest real decline was in Government employment, which was down 444 (2.8%) with losses at all three levels. The largest proportional loss was in Leisure and Hospitality, which was off by 4.2% (336 jobs).

Mankato MSA

Employment in the Mankato MSA was down by 92 (0.2%) over the month in March. It was the only MSA primarily in Minnesota to lose jobs on the month. The declines came from goods producers, which lost 102 jobs (1.1%) while service providers added 10 jobs (0.0%). Government employers added 66 jobs (0.7%).

Over the year Mankato employers lost 494 jobs or 0.8%. This was the lowest annual growth of any MSA primarily in Minnesota. Every published component lost jobs. Goods producers lost 151 jobs (1.6%), and service providers lost 343 jobs (0.7%). Private sector employers lost 356 jobs (0.7%), and public sector employers lost 138 jobs (1.3%).

Fargo-Moorhead MSA

Employment in the Fargo-Moorhead MSA was up by 569 (0.4%) over the month in March on an unadjusted basis. The growth was entirely in the private sector, which was up 664 jobs (0.5%) while Government employers lost 68 jobs (0.3%). Mining, Logging, and Construction added 372 jobs (4.3%), and Educational and Health Services added 254 jobs (0.8%). The largest real and proportional job loss was in Trade, Transportation, and Utilities, which was off by 143 jobs (0.5%).

Over the year Fargo-area employers lost 640 jobs or 0.4%. Losses in Mining, Logging, and Construction (off 628 or 6.5%), Professional and Business Services (down 633 or 4.4%), and Leisure and Hospitality (down 703 jobs or 4.6%) overcame the addition of 1,332 jobs or 4.6% in Educational and Health Services. Overall, seven of 10 published supersectors lost jobs on the year, and three added jobs.

Grand Forks-East Grand Forks MSA

Grand Forks-East Grand Forks employers lost 51 jobs or 0.1% in March. Trade, Transportation, and Utilities drove the declines, off by 153 jobs or 1.4%. The largest real job growth was in Educational and Health Services, which added 68 jobs or 0.7%. The largest proportional growth was in Other Services, which was up 1.4% or 26 jobs.

Over the year employers in the area added 1,043 jobs or 1.9%. Eight of 10 published supersectors posted positive annual growth. The largest real and proportional decline was in Leisure and Hospitality, down 346 jobs or 5.8%. Educational and Health Services employment was up 429 or 4.6%, and Mining, Logging, and Construction added 238 jobs or 8.7%.