by Nick Dobbins
October 2024
Employment in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington MSA was down by 3,876 (0.2%) over the month in September, which is common for this time of year. The largest declines in both real and proportional terms came in Leisure and Hospitality, which was off 12,482 or 6.4% as the summer season ended and students returned to school. Manufacturing was down 2,028 (1%), Other Services was down 3,371 (4.3%), and Mining, Logging, and Construction was down 618 (0.7%). On the flip side, the start of the school year drove up employment in Government (up 14,906 or 6.2%). Local Government Educational Services was up 12,893 or 18.6%, and State Government Educational Services was up 5,535 or 16.1%. Educational and Health Services was up 782 (0.2%) with Educational Services up 2,187 (4.9%) and Health Care and Social Assistance down 1,405 (6.5%).
Over the year employment in the metro area was off by 6,920 or 0.3%. Professional and Business Services lost 12,960 jobs (4.1%), which was the largest real and proportional decline of any supersector in the area, although still an improvement over August's 5.3% annual decline. Leisure and Hospitality lost 6,487 jobs (3.5%), and Financial Activities lost 5,214 jobs (3.6%). The largest growth came in Educational and Health Services, which was up 19,066 jobs (5.3%) with Health Care and Social Assistance up 20,272 (6.5%). Two other supersectors also added jobs. Government employers added 5,491 jobs (2.2%), and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities added 1,041 jobs (0.3%) despite the loss of 1,344 jobs (1.6%) in Wholesale Trade.
Employment in the Duluth-Superior MSA was up by 286 over the month in September, outpacing the statewide growth of -0.1%. Seven of 10 published supersectors lost jobs, led by Leisure and Hospitality which was down by 1,023 jobs or 6.8%. However, losses were countered by the gain of 1,621 jobs (8%) among Government employers as schools began returning from summer break. Local Government employers added 515 jobs (4%), and State Government employers added 1,122 jobs (19.3%).
Over the year Duluth employers lost 1,769 jobs or 1.3%. This was the lowest over-the-year growth of any MSA in the state. Declines were largest in Government employment, which was off by 2,175 or 9%. Local Government lost 1,994 jobs or 12.9%, suggesting that educational employment returned earlier in the fall of 2023. Mining, Logging, and Construction employment was down 833 (8.1%) on the year. The largest real and proportional annual growth came in Educational and Health Services, which was up 1,448 jobs or 4.6%. Trade, Transportation, and Utilities added 549 jobs or 2.3%.
The Rochester MSA lost 393 jobs (0.3%) in September. This was the lowest over-the-month growth of any MSA in the state. Nine of 10 published supersectors lost jobs on the month. The largest proportional job loss came in Information, which was down 326 jobs or 31.2%. Leisure and Hospitality employment was down 746 jobs or 6.4%. Government employers lost 137 jobs or 1%. The largest overall real job movement came in the only supersector to add jobs, Educational and Health Services, which was up 1,163 or 1.9%.
Over the year the Rochester area added 7,859 jobs or 6.3%. This was the largest over-the-year growth of any MSA in the state. Growth was driven by Educational and Health Services, which added 8,242 jobs or 15.2%, the largest real and proportional growth of any supersector. Government employers added 544 jobs or 4.2%. Overall, six of 10 published supersectors lost jobs on the year. The largest real and proportional declines came in Information, which was down 387 jobs or 35%. Leisure and Hospitality was down 405 jobs or 3.6%.
The St. Cloud MSA added 755 jobs (0.7%) over the month of September. Growth was driven by Government employment, which added 1,513 jobs or 10.8%. State Government employment was up 831 jobs (29.5%), and Local Government employment was up 686 jobs (7.8%). Educational and Health Services was up 286 or 1.2%. Overall, seven of 10 published supersectors lost jobs on the month. The largest real and proportional decline came in Leisure and Hospitality, which was down 491 or 6%.
Over the year the St. Cloud MSA added 989 jobs or 0.9%. The largest real and proportional growth was in Educational and Health Services, which added 1,242 jobs or 5.6%. Government employers added 664 jobs or 4.5%, with most of that growth coming at the Local Government level (up 594 or 6.7%). Six of 10 published supersectors lost jobs on the year, with the largest decline coming in Leisure and Hospitality, which was off by 491 jobs or 6%.
Employment in the Mankato-North Mankato MSA was up by 423 (0.7%) in September, out-performing the state as a whole, which lost 0.1%. Private sector employers added 547 jobs (1.85) while their public sector counterparts lost 124 jobs (1.3%). Goods producers lost 85 jobs (0.8%), and service providers added 508 jobs (1.1%).
Over the year the Mankato-North Mankato MSA added 920 jobs (1.6%), outpacing the statewide growth of 1.3%. All published series posted positive growth. Service providers added 815 jobs (1.7%), and goods producers added 105 jobs (1%).
Employment in the Fargo-Moorhead MSA was up 2,305 (1.5%) over the month of September. Growth was driven by Government employment, which was up 2,961 or 15.8%. State Government employment was up 1,199 (25%), and Local Government was up 1,779 (15.9%). The next-largest growth came in Trade, Transportation, and Utilities, which was up 545 or 1.7%, with growth in both Retail Trade and Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities. Educational and Health Services employment was down 508 (1.7%), and Financial Activities employment was down 365 (3.3%).
Over the year, employers in Fargo-Moorhead added 2,541 jobs or 1.7%. Seven of 10 published supersectors added jobs, led by Government (up 948 or 4.6%) and Educational and Health Services (up 1,031 or 3.6%). Professional and Business Services shed 549 jobs (3.6%), and Financial Activities employment was off by 468 or 4.2%.
The Grand Forks-East Grand Forks MSA added 863 jobs or 1.6%, in September. Government employers added 1,121 jobs (9.2%) with growth at both the state and local levels as schools began returning for the fall. The largest declines came in Mining, Logging, and Construction (down 128 or 3.5%) and Educational and Health Services (down 167 or 1.7%).
Over the year employers in the Grand Forks-East Grand Forks MSA added 525 jobs (1%). Seven of 10 published supersectors added jobs on the month, led by Government (up 371 or 2.9%) Mining, Logging, and Construction (up 133 or 4%) and Educational and Health Services (up 218 or 2.3%). The largest real and proportional declines were in Leisure and Hospitality which lost 184 jobs or 3.3%.
