Regional Analysis
by Nick Dobbins
July 2025
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)
Employment in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington MSA was up by 15,053 (0.7%) over the month in June. Nine of 10 published supersectors added jobs on the month, with the only negative growth coming in Educational and Health Services, which lost 2,372 jobs (0.6%) owing to the loss of 4,205 (8.6%) in Educational Services as school staffing contracted moving into the summer months. As is common this time of year, the largest proportional growth came in Mining, Logging, and Construction (up 3.6% or 1,148 jobs) followed by Leisure and Hospitality (up 3.5% or 6,506 jobs, which was also the largest real job gain of any supersector). No other supersector posted growth of greater than 1%. Trade, Transportation, and Utilities added 2,469 jobs or 0.7%, with positive growth in all three major component sectors.
On an annual basis employers in the metro area added 22,012 jobs or 1.1%, which was an improvement over May’s 0.8% growth. Six of 10 published supersectors added jobs on the year. The largest real and proportional growth came in Educational and Health Services, which added 13,643 jobs or 3.7%, with growth of better than 3% in both major component sectors. Government employers added 9,080 jobs or 3.5%, with Local Government employers adding 7,679 jobs (4.5%), State Government up 1,804 jobs (2.7%), and Federal Government down 403 jobs (1.9%). Among supersectors to lose jobs on the year, the largest real and proportional declines came in Financial Activities, which shed 4,075 jobs or 2.8%, with losses in every published component series. The other supersectors to lose jobs were Other Services, Leisure and Hospitality, and Information.
Duluth-Superior MSA
Employment in the Duluth-Superior MSA was up by 268 (0.2%) in June. This was lower than the statewide monthly growth of 0.8%. While nine of 10 published supersectors added jobs on the month, the single largest real job movement was a decline of 1,043 jobs (3.2%) in Leisure and Hospitality. The largest positive real job growth came in Leisure and Hospitality, which added 452 jobs (3%). The largest proportional job growth in the area came in Mining, Logging, and Construction, which was up 4.7% or 434 jobs.
Over the year employers in the Duluth area added 843 jobs or 0.6%. This was an improvement over May’s 0.1% over-the-year growth. Just four of 10 published supersectors added jobs on the year, led by the addition of 1,218 jobs or 4% in Leisure and Hospitality. Government employers added 840 jobs (3.4%) with growth at the state and local levels. The largest real and proportional job losses came in Mining, Logging, and Construction, which was off by 729 jobs or 7%. Over the year Financial Activities employment was down 162 jobs or 3.3%.
Rochester MSA
Rochester-area employers added 2,013 jobs or 1.5% over the month. This was slightly better than the 1.4% monthly growth in May and the highest growth of any MSA primarily in Minnesota. The only supersector to post negative monthly growth was Other Services, which was down by 10 jobs or 0.3%. Educational and Health Services added 719 jobs or 1.2%, and Government employers added 611 jobs or 4.5% largely from the addition of 568 jobs (5.1%) at the Local Government level. Mining, Logging, and Construction employment was up by 4.3% or 241 jobs.
Over the year employers in Rochester added 6,119 jobs or 4.7%. This was the highest proportional growth of any MSA primarily in Minnesota. Five supersectors added jobs, and five lost jobs on the year. The largest gain, in real and proportional terms, came in Educational and Health Services, which added 6,249 jobs or 11.2%. No other supersector added more than 400 jobs. The largest real job loss was in Leisure and Hospitality (down 571 jobs or 4.7%) and the largest proportional job loss came in Information (down 5.8% or 60 jobs).
St. Cloud MSA
Employers in the St. Cloud MSA shed 846 jobs or 0.8% over the month of June. This was the largest monthly decline of any MSA primarily in Minnesota. The losses were driven by Educational and Health Services, which lost 1,078 jobs or 4.6%. Government employers lost 468 jobs or 3.1%, with most of that loss coming at the State Government level (down 689 jobs or 19.3%). The largest real and proportional growth in the area came in Mining, Logging, and Construction, which added 531 jobs or 6.3%.
Over the year employers in St. Cloud added 49 jobs or 0.0%, the lowest growth of any MSA primarily in Minnesota. Five supersectors added jobs, and five lost jobs on the year. The largest decline was in Leisure and Hospitality, which was off by 400 jobs or 4.6%. The largest positive growth came in Educational and Health Services, up 801 jobs or 3.7%. Manufacturing employers added 116 jobs or 0.8%.
Mankato MSA
Employment in the Mankato MSA was up by 636 or 1.1% in June. This was higher than the statewide growth of 0.8%. Every published series added jobs in the area, with employment in goods producers up 224 (2.3%) and employment among service providers up 412 (0.8%).
Over the year employers in the Mankato area added 1,427 jobs or 2.5%, higher than the statewide growth rate of 1.6%. Service providers added 1,547 jobs (3.2%) while goods producers lost 120 jobs (1.2%). Private sector employers added 1,070 jobs, and public sector employers added 357 jobs (3.6%).
Fargo-Moorhead MSA
Employment in the Fargo-Moorhead MSA was up by 385 (0.3%) over the month, lower than Minnesota’s statewide growth of 0.8%. Seven of 10 published supersectors in the area added jobs, led by Mining, Logging, and Construction, which was up 674 or 6%. The largest real and proportional monthly job loss came in Government, which was down by 947 jobs or 4.3%. State Government employers lost 452 jobs or 7.3%, and Local Government employers lost 495 jobs or 3.8%.
Over the year employment in the Fargo-Moorhead area was up 1,006 jobs or 0.7%, with seven of 10 published supersectors adding jobs. The largest real and proportional movement by a large margin was in Educational and Health Services, which added 1,746 jobs or 6.1%. The next-largest real job growth came in Government, which added 189 jobs (0.9%). Professional and Business Services lost 869 jobs or 5.7%, and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities lost 482 jobs or 1.5%.
Grand Forks-East Grand Forks MSA
The Grand Forks-East Grand Forks MSA added 88 jobs (1.9%) in June. The growth was driven by Mining, Logging, and Construction employment, which was up by 261 or 7.5%. Seven of 10 published supersectors added jobs on the month, but the largest real job movement in either direction was the loss of 669 jobs (4.9%) in Government employment.
Over the year Grand Forks-East Grand Forks area employers added 1,414 jobs or 2.6%. Eight of 10 published supersectors added jobs, led by Educational and Health Services (up 533 or 5.7%) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (up 296 or 2.7%). The two supersectors to post negative growth on the year, Financial Activities and Leisure and Hospitality, combined to shed a total of 33 jobs (down 0.5% and 0.4%, respectively).
