Regional Analysis

by Nick Dobbins
March 2025

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

The Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) lost 1,628 jobs or 0.1% over the month in February on a not-seasonally adjusted basis. This was the lowest over-the-month growth of any MSA primarily in Minnesota. Overall, six supersectors added jobs, and four lost jobs. The largest decline came in Trade, Transportation, and Utilities, which lost 4,848 jobs or 1.4%, with all three published component sectors shedding jobs on the month. Leisure and Hospitality lost 4,272 jobs or 2.5%, with the Accommodation and Food Services sector losing 3,633 jobs or 2.6%.

On an annual basis the metro area added 14,896 jobs, or 0.8%. Five supersectors added jobs, and five lost jobs. The largest real job movement in either direction came in Educational and Health Services, which added, 13,330 jobs (3.7%). That growth came entirely in Health Care and Social Assistance (up 13,372 jobs or 4.3%) as Educational Services lost 42 jobs (0.1%). The largest proportional growth was in Government employment, which was up 3.8% (9,686 jobs) with growth at all three levels of Government. The largest annual decline in real and proportional terms came in Leisure and Hospitality, which was off by 6,185 or 3.5%, with losses in every published component series. Professional and Business Services lost 2,885 jobs (1%) with component Employment Services down 3,092 or 8.4%. Mining, Logging, and Construction employment was off by 1.4% (1,123 jobs) owing in larges part to the loss of 3,523 jobs (6.7%) among Specialty Trade Contractors.

Duluth-Superior MSA

Monthly employment in the Duluth-Superior MSA was up 515 (0.4%) in February. Five supersectors added jobs, and five lost jobs on the month. Government employment was up 749 (3%) despite declines in Federal employment (down 28, or 1.9%). Educational and Health Services added 158 jobs or 0.5%. The largest monthly decline on a real and proportional basis came in Leisure and Hospitality, which was down by 213 or 1.5%. Trade, Transportation, and Utilities was down 199 (0.8%) with losses in all three component sectors.

Over the year the Duluth-Superior MSA added 89 jobs or 0.1%. Growth was highest in Educational and Health Services, which added 307 jobs or 1%. Professional and Business Services added 169 jobs or 2.3%. The largest real job losses in the MSA came in Leisure and Hospitality, which was off by 120 (0.9%), and the largest proportional decline was in Information, which was down 4.3% or 42 jobs.

Rochester MSA

Employment in the Rochester MSA was up 286 (0.2%) over the month in February, although only three of 10 published supersectors added jobs on the month. The growth was driven by Education and Health Services, which added 753 jobs or 1.3%. The largest real job decline came in Trade, Transportation, and Utilities, which shed 185 jobs (1.1%) with losses in all three component sectors. The largest proportional loss was in Leisure and Hospitality, which was down 1.6% (367 jobs).

Over the year the Rochester MSA added 6,380 jobs or 5.2%. This was the highest over-the-year growth of any MSA primarily in Minnesota. The increase was driven by the addition of 5,381 jobs (9.9%) in Educational and Health Services. Government employers added 687 jobs (5.3%) with growth at all three levels. Professional and Business Services added 269 jobs or 4.1%. Three supersectors in Rochester lost jobs on the year, with the largest real and proportional declines coming in Leisure and Hospitality (down 367 or 3.4%).

St. Cloud MSA

Employment in the St. Cloud MSA was mostly flat in February as employers added 18 jobs or 0.0% on the month. Leisure and Hospitality was down 132 jobs (1.7%); Mining, Logging, and Construction was down 106 jobs (1.5%), and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities was down 182 jobs (0.8%) with declines in all three component sectors. The largest real and proportional growth in the area came in Government employment, which was up 244 jobs or 1.6%. Educational and Health Services added 176 jobs or 0.8%.

On an annual basis St. Cloud employers added 368 jobs or 0.3%. Growth was strongest in Mining, Logging, and Construction (up 200 or 2.9%) and Educational and Health Services (up 554 jobs or 2.4%). The largest real and proportional job losses came in Leisure and Hospitality, which was off by 354 jobs or 4.4%. Government employers lost 175 jobs (or 1.1%) on the year, with declines at all three levels of government.

Mankato-North Mankato MSA

The Mankato MSA added 293 jobs, or 0.5%, over the month in February. This was the largest proportional monthly growth of any MSA primarily in Minnesota. Service providers drove the growth, adding 291 jobs (0.6%), while goods producers added 2 jobs (0%). Private sector employers added 84 jobs (0.2%), and public sector employment was up 209 (2.1%).

Over the year the Mankato MSA lost 328 jobs or 0.6%. This was the lowest OTY growth of any MSA primarily in Minnesota. Goods producers lost 46 jobs (0.5%), and service providers lost 282 jobs (0.6%). Government employers added 99 jobs (1%) over the year in Mankato.

Fargo-Moorhead MSA

The Fargo-Moorhead MSA added 404 jobs or 0.3% in February. Government employment was up 568 (2.7%), the largest real and proportional growth of any supersector in the area, with State Government up 349 (6%). Leisure and Hospitality employment was up 244 jobs or 1.7%. The largest monthly job loss in the area came in Mining, Logging, and Construction, which was down by 216 jobs or 2.5%. Trade, Transportation, and Utilities lost 185 jobs (0.6%) thanks to the loss of 147 jobs (1%) in Retail Trade.

Over the year Fargo-Moorhead employers lost 237 jobs or 0.2%. Six of 10 published supersectors lost jobs. Mining, Logging, and Construction employment was down 682 (7.4%), Professional and Business Services employment was down 597 jobs (4.1%), and Leisure and Hospitality was down 390 jobs (2.6%). The largest real and proportional growth in the area was in Educational and Health Services, which added 1,111 jobs or 3.8%.

Grand Forks-East Grand Forks MSA

Employers in the Grand Forks-East Grand Forks MSA added 404 jobs (0.7%) over the month of February. Six of 10 published supersectors added jobs, and one (Information) was flat. The largest growth was in Government employment, up 332 jobs or 2.4%. The largest real and proportional job loss came in Trade, Transportation and Utilities, which shed 97 jobs or 0.9%, with losses in all three component sectors.

Over the year the Grand Forks-East Grand Forks MSA added 1,561 jobs or 2.9%. The largest proportional gains came in Mining, Logging, and Construction, which was up 12% (or 313 jobs) on the year. Trade, Transportation, and Utilities added 475 jobs (4.5%) with growth in all three component sectors. Educational and Health Services added 369 jobs (3.9%), and Government employment was up 262 jobs (1.9%).