Regional Analysis

by Nick Dobbins
May 2025

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

Employment in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington metropolitan statistical area (MSA) was up by 21,309 jobs, or 1.1% over the month in April on a non-seasonally adjusted basis. Mining, Logging, and Construction added 5,807 jobs or 7.3% on the month as warmer weather industries increased employment. Leisure and Hospitality was up 6,257 jobs or 3.7%, with Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation up by 11.8% (3,963 jobs). Professional and Business Services employers added 6,591 jobs or 2.3%, with positive growth in every published component series. Employment Services was up 3.5% or 1,198 jobs on the month. Four of 10 published supersectors lost jobs in April, with the largest real job loss in Educational and Health Services (down 906 jobs or 0.2%) and the largest proportional decline coming in Information (down 0.5% or 127 jobs). 

Over the year employers in the metro area added 15,989 jobs or 0.8%. Four supersectors lost jobs, and six added jobs. The largest and proportional annual real job increase was in Educational and Health Services, which was up by 12,384 jobs or 3.4%. All of that growth came in the Health Care and Social Assistance sector (up 12,412 jobs or 3.9%) as Educational Services employment was down by 28 (0.1%). Government employers added 7,303 jobs or 2.8%. State Government employment was up 2,640 jobs (3.7%), and Local Government employment was up 4,700 (2.9%) with growth in both levels of government coming primarily among non-education employment. Manufacturing was up 3,086 jobs or 1.6%. The largest real and proportional job loss came in Leisure and Hospitality, which was down by 5,859 jobs or 3.2%. 

Duluth-Superior MSA

Employers in the Duluth-Superior MSA added 705 jobs or 0.5% over the month of April. Seven of 10 published supersectors added jobs on the month. Growth was concentrated in highly seasonal industries, as the largest employment expansion was in Leisure and Hospitality (up 299 jobs or 2.2%), and the largest proportional growth was in Mining, Logging, and Construction (up 2.7% or 238 jobs). The most notable job losses came in Government employment, which was off by 224 jobs or 0.9%, entirely from losses at the Local Government level (down 256 jobs or 1.5%). 

Over the year Duluth-area employers shed 258 jobs or 0.2%. Six of 10 published supersectors lost jobs. Government employment was off by 776 or 2.9%, with losses coming primarily at the local level (down 772 or 4.5%). Mining, Logging, and Construction employment was off by 275 jobs (3%) over the year, and Leisure and Hospitality lost 243 jobs or 1.7%. These annual declines in highly seasonal industries suggest a later or slower increase in summer employment in some warm-weather industries. The highest real and proportional annual growth in the region came in Educational and Health Services, which was up by 895 jobs or 2.8%. 

Rochester MSA

Employment in the Rochester MSA was up by 1,225 or 0.9% over the month. Nine of 10 published supersectors added jobs on the month, with the only negative growth coming in Financial Activities (down 6 jobs or 0.2%). The largest monthly real job growth came in Educational and Health Services, which was up 531 jobs or 0.9%, and the largest proportional growth came in Mining, Logging, and Construction, which was up by 4.8% or 240 jobs. Leisure and Hospitality was up 190 or 1.8% on the month. 

On an annual basis Rochester employers added 6,363 jobs or 5.1%. This was the highest proportional growth of any MSA primarily in Minnesota. Growth was driven by Educational and Health Services, which added 5,847 jobs or 10.7%, the highest real and proportional growth of any supersector in the area. Government employers added 451 jobs (3.4%), and Professional and Business Services was up 248 jobs (3.6%). Notable declines were in Leisure and Hospitality (down 393 jobs or 3.5%) and Information (down 42 jobs or 4.1%). 

St. Cloud MSA

St. Cloud area employers added 1,128 jobs or 1% over the month of April. All but two published supersectors added jobs on the month, and those two shed a total of six jobs between them (Financial Activities was down 0.1%, and Information was down 0.2%). The largest real and proportional job growth came in the highly seasonal Mining, Logging, and Construction supersector, which added 344 jobs or 4.7%. Leisure and Hospitality employment was up 1.7% (129 jobs), and Government employers added 180 jobs (1.2%). 

Over the year employment in the St. Cloud MSA was up by 957 or 0.9%. Educational and Health Services drove the growth, adding 949 jobs or 4.2%. Manufacturing was up 145 jobs (1%, and Professional and Business Services was up 140 jobs (2.2%). Government employers lost 183 jobs or 1.2% with losses at all three levels of government. Leisure and Hospitality employment was off by 173 jobs or 2.2%. 

Mankato MSA

Employment in the Mankato MSA was up by 246 or 0.4% over the month. This was the lowest proportional growth of any MSA primarily in Minnesota. Private sector employers added 267 jobs or 0.6%, while public sector employers lost 21 jobs (0.2%). Employment in both goods-producing and service-providing industries was up 0.4%, adding 39 jobs and 207 jobs, respectively. 

Over the year Mankato-area employers lost 554 jobs or 0.9%. It was the only MSA primarily in Minnesota to shed jobs on the year. Goods producers lost 237 jobs or 2.4%, and service providers lost 317 jobs or 0.6%. 

Fargo-Moorhead MSA

Employment in the Fargo-Moorhead MSA was up by 1,135 or 0.8%, over the month in April. There was positive growth in seven of 10 published supersectors in the region. The largest real and proportional monthly growth came in Mining, Logging, and Construction, which was up by 618 jobs or 6.9%. Government employers added 345 jobs (1.6%), and Professional and Business Services employers added 238 jobs (1.7%). The largest real and proportional losses were in Trade, Transportation, and Utilities, which was off by 259 jobs or 0.8%. All three component sectors lost jobs on the month. 

Over the year employers in the Fargo-Moorhead area lost 1,191 jobs or 0.8%. Six of 10 published supersectors shed jobs on the year. The largest real job losses were in Professional and Business Services, which shed 854 jobs or 5.7%. Mining, Logging, and Construction was down 750 jobs or 7.3%, and Leisure and Hospitality lost 765 jobs or 5%. The largest real job growth came in Educational and Health Services, which added 1,153 jobs (3.9%), and the largest proportional growth was in Other Services, which was up by 6.5% or 315 jobs. 

Grand Forks-East Grand Forks MSA

The Grand Forks-East Grand Forks MSA added 118 jobs or 0.2% in April. Three supersectors lost jobs on the month, with Government employment down 224 or 1.6% and Leisure and Hospitality down 195 jobs or 3.5%. The largest real job growth was in Trade, Transportation, and Utilities, which added 194 jobs (1.8%) caused entirely by the addition of 217 jobs (3.1%) in Retail Trade. Mining, Logging, and Construction employment was up 5% or 149 jobs in April. 

Over the year employers in the Grand Forks-East Grand Forks area added 1,086 jobs or 2%. Educational and Health Services was up 457 jobs (4.9%), Trade, Transportation, and Utilities was up 377 jobs (3.5%),and Other Services was up 142 jobs (7.9%). The largest real and proportional annual losses were in Leisure and Hospitality, which was off by 232 jobs or 4.1%.