Regional Analysis
by Nick Dobbins
February 2025
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)
Employment in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington MSA was down by 28,461 jobs (1.4%) over the month in January on a not-seasonally-adjusted basis, which was in line with historical job losses for January, and slightly worse than the state's 1.1% decline. All but two supersectors in the MSA posted monthly losses. The largest real and proportional decline came in Trade, Transportation, and Utilities, which was off by 8,778 jobs or 2.5%. That decline was driven by post-holiday losses in Retail Trade (down 5,258 or 2.9%) and Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities (down 3,020 or 3.5%). Professional and Business Services lost 3,893 jobs (1.4%), and Leisure and Hospitality lost 2,513 jobs (1.4%). The only positive growth was in Information (up 114 jobs or 0.4%) and Other Services (up 252 jobs, or 0.3%).
Over the year the metro area added 17,599 jobs or 0.9%. Five published supersectors added jobs, and five lost jobs. The largest real and proportional growth came in Educational and Health Services, which added 15,954 jobs (4.4%) with most of that growth coming from the Health Care and Social Assistance sector (up 15,428 or 4.9%). Government employers added 9,128 jobs (3.6%) on the year, with Local Government up 5,907 (3.6%) and State Government up 3,221 (4.6%). The largest real and proportional job losses in the metro area were in Professional and Business Services, which shed 4,878 jobs (1.7%). Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services lost 2,352 jobs (2.8%) primarily from the loss of 3,980 jobs (10.7%) in the Employment Services component. The Financial Services supersector lost 2,296 jobs (1.6%). Finance and Insurance lost 2,471 jobs (2.1%), while Real Estate and Rental and Leasing added 175 jobs (0.6%).
Duluth-Superior MSA
The Duluth-Superior MSA lost 1,597 jobs (1.2%) in January. All but one published supersector lost jobs on the month, with the positive growth coming in Other Services (up 34 jobs or 0.6%). The largest proportional losses came in Mining, Logging, and Construction, which was down by 469 or 5.1%. The largest real job losses in January were in Trade, Transportation, and Utilities, which was off by 701 jobs (2.8%). Retail Trade lost 498 jobs (3.3%), and Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities lost 200 jobs (2.9%).
On an annual basis, employers in the Duluth-Superior MSA added 1,125 jobs or 0.9%. This was lower than the statewide growth of 1.6%. Educational and Health Services employment was up 949 (3%), and Leisure and Hospitality was up 257 or 1.9%. Overall, five supersectors added jobs, and five lost jobs. Notable declines came in Mining, Logging, and Construction (down 211 or 2.4%) and Government (down 247, or 1%). Government declines were primarily concentrated at the Local Government level, which was off by 450 jobs or 2.7%.
Rochester MSA
Employment in the Rochester MSA was down by 547 (0.4%) over the month of January. This was the best performance of any MSA primarily in Minnesota. Six of 10 published supersectors lost jobs on the year. Mining, Logging, and Construction was down 330 (6.2%), and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities was down 495 (2.8%). The largest growth came in Educational and Health Services, which added 397 jobs or 0.7%.
Over the year employers in the Rochester MSA added 6,130 jobs or 5%. This was the largest proportional annual growth of any MSA primarily in Minnesota. Seven of 10 published supersectors added jobs on the year. The largest real and proportional growth in the MSA by a large margin was in Educational and Health Services. The supersector added 4,867 jobs or 9% on the year. The next-largest growth supersector in real and proportional terms was Government, which added 660 jobs or 5.1%. Information posted the largest proportional declines in the area, off by 6.1% (64 jobs), and the largest real job loss came in Leisure and Hospitality, which was down by 174 jobs (or 1.6%).
St. Cloud MSA
The St. Cloud MSA lost 1,123 jobs (1%) in January. This was slightly better than the state's 1.1% decline. Trade, Transportation, and Utilities lost 354 jobs (1.6%) caused in large part by the decline of 312 (2.4%) in Retail Trade. Mining, Logging, and Construction was down by 545 jobs or 7%. The largest real and proportional increase was in Government employment, which was up by 162 or 1.1%. State Government added 150 jobs or 4.3%.
On an annual basis employment in the St. Cloud MSA was up by 1,200 (1.1%). Educational and Health Services added 978 jobs (4.4%), the largest real job growth of any supersector in the area. The largest proportional growth was in Mining, Logging, and Construction, where employment was up 4.7% or 324 jobs. Four supersectors in St. Cloud lost jobs on the year, with Government down 162 jobs (1%) and Leisure and Hospitality down 112 jobs (1.4%).
Mankato-North Mankato MSA
The Mankato MSA lost 502 jobs or 0.9%, over the month in January. This was slightly better than the statewide loss of 1.1%. Goods producers added 11 jobs (0.1%), while service providers lost 513 jobs (1.1%).
Over the year employment in the Mankato MSA added 180 jobs or 0.3%. This was the worst annual job growth of any MSA primarily in Minnesota. Private sector employers added 156 jobs or 0.3%, while public sector employers added 24 jobs or 0.2%. Goods producers added 11 jobs (0.1%), and service providers added 291 jobs (0.6%).
Fargo-Moorhead MSA
Employment in the Fargo-Moorhead MSA was off by 3,654 jobs or 2.4%, over the month of January. This was a worse proportional over-the-month change than any MSA primarily in Minnesota. Every published supersector in the Fargo area lost jobs on the month. Leisure and Hospitality was off by 606 (4.1%), Trade, Transportation, and Utilities was down 787 (2.4%), and Government was down 523 (2.4%).
Over the year employers in the Fargo-Moorhead area added 418 jobs or 0.3%. Educational and Health Services added 1,561 jobs or 5.5%, which was the largest real or proportional job growth of any supersector in the area. Declines in Professional and Business Services (down 589 or 4.1%), Mining, Logging, and Construction (down 535, or 5.8%), and Leisure and Hospitality (down 450, or 3.1%) tempered overall growth in the area.
Grand Forks-East Grand Forks MSA
Employment in the Grand Forks-East Grand Forks MSA was off by 1,026 (1.8%) in January. Every published supersector lost jobs on the month. The declines were largest in Mining, Logging, and Construction (down 185 or 5.9%), Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (down 290 or 2.5%), and Government (down 159 or 1.1%).
Over the year employment in the Grand Forks-East Grand Forks MSA was up by 1,339 jobs or 2.5%. The largest proportional growth came in Mining, Logging, and Construction, which was up by 10.9% (288 jobs). The largest real job growth was in Trade, Transportation, and Utilities, which was up by 625 (5.9%) with growth in all three component sectors. Only two supersectors in the MSA lost jobs on the year. Leisure and Hospitality was down by 415 (7%), and Information was down by 9 jobs (1.6%).
