Regional Analysis

by Nick Dobbins
September 2025

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

Employment in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington MSA was down by 2,143 jobs (0.1%) over the month of August on a not-seasonally adjusted basis. The loss was driven in large part by Government employment, which was off by 6,289 jobs or 2.5%. All three levels of Government shed jobs, but the largest declines came in Local Government, which was down 5,596 jobs or 3.5%. Local Government Educational Services was down by 4,607 jobs or 6.2%, while Non-Educational Services was off by 989 jobs (1.2%). The largest proportional growth in the area came in Mining, Logging, and Construction, which was up by 2,071 jobs or 2.1%, with growth in all published components. The largest real growth was in Educational and Health Services, which added 4,610 jobs (1.2%). No other supersector posted a growth or loss of greater than 0.7% (Other Services, up by 528 jobs). 

Over the year employers in the metro area added 15,633 jobs or 0.8%. Five of 10 published supersectors added jobs. Educational and Health Services led the way, adding 16,006 jobs or 4.4%. Mining, Logging, and Construction added 3,307 jobs, or 3.4%, with growth in all published components. Manufacturing added 3,272 jobs (1.6%) in large part from to the addition of 2,691 jobs (4.4%) in Non-Durable Goods Manufacturing. The largest real job loss in the area came in Financial Activities, which was down by 3,716 jobs (2.6%). Both major components lost jobs on the year, with Finance and Insurance down 2,878 jobs (2.5%) and Real Estate and Rental and Leasing down 838 jobs (2.9%). The largest proportional decline in the metro area came in Information, which was off by 2.9% (800 jobs). Other Services employers shed 2,221 jobs or 2.8%. 

Duluth-Superior MSA

Employment growth in the Duluth-Superior MSA was mostly flat in August as the region lost 25 total jobs or 0.0%. The largest real and proportional losses came in Government employment, which was down 390 jobs or 1.7%, with declines at all three levels of government. The largest proportional growth was in Mining, Logging, and Construction, which added 109 jobs or 1.1%. The largest real growth was in Educational and Health Services, which was up 276 jobs or 0.9%. No other supersector in the area had positive or negative growth of over 100 jobs or 1%. 

Over the year employers in the Duluth-Superior area added 516 jobs or 0.4%. The largest real and proportional growth was in Educational and Health Services, which added 1,839 jobs or 6.1%, with the next-largest coming in at just 154 jobs and 1.8% (Manufacturing). The largest declines came in Mining, Logging, and Construction (down 680 jobs or 6.5%) followed by Government (down 1.6% or 382 jobs) and Financial Activities (down 3.1% or 150 jobs). 

Rochester MSA

Employment in the Rochester MSA was up by 487 jobs or 0.4% in August. Five supersectors added jobs and five lost jobs on the month. Educational and Health Services was up by 561 (0.9%), leading the region in both real and proportional growth. The largest job losses came in Trade, Transportation, and Utilities, which was down 83 jobs or 0.5%. Wholesale Trade was down 35 jobs (1.3%), and Retail Trade was down 59 jobs (0.5%) while Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities added 11 jobs (0.4%). Financial Activities employment was down 0.5% (14 jobs) on the month. 

On an annual basis Rochester employers added 7,568 jobs or 5.9%. Six of 10 published supersectors posted positive annual growth. Educational and Health Services added 7,297 jobs or 13%, leading the growth. Declines were largest in Leisure and Hospitality (down 374 jobs or 3.1%) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (down 302 jobs or 1.7%). The Retail Trade component drove the losses, off by 306 jobs or 2.5%. Wholesale Trade was down 74 jobs (2.7%), and Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities was up 78 jobs (3.2%). 

St. Cloud MSA

Employment in the St. Cloud MSA was down by 417 (0.4) over the month. Six of 10 published supersectors lost jobs on the month. The steepest decline came in Government employment, which was off by 386 jobs or 2.9%. Local Government drove the losses, shedding 342 jobs or 4.1%, although all three levels posted negative growth. The largest proportional growth was in Other Services (up 0.9% or 38 jobs), and the largest real job growth was in Trade, Transportation, and Utilities, which added 50 jobs (0.2%) in large part due to the addition of 99 jobs (0.7%) in Retail Trade. 

Over the year St. Cloud employers lost 645 jobs or 0.6%. It was the only MSA primarily in Minnesota to post negative annual growth. The largest real and proportional decline was in Government, which shed 611 jobs or 4.4%. Local Government lost 462 jobs (5.4%), Federal lost 118 jobs (4.7%), and State lost 31 jobs (1.1%). Leisure and Hospitality employment was off by 368 jobs or 4.2%. The largest annual growth in the area came in Educational and Health Services, which added 703 jobs or 3.2%. The next-largest real job growth was 73 jobs (0.5%) in Manufacturing. 

Mankato-North Mankato MSA

Mankato area employers lost 37 jobs (0.1%) in August. Private sector employers added 38 jobs (0.1%), and public sector employers lost 75 jobs (0.8%). Goods producers lost 210 jobs (2.1%) while service providers added 173 jobs (0.4%). 

Over the year employers in Mankato added 2,354 jobs or 4.2%, better than the statewide mark of 1.3% annual growth. The growth came entirely from service providers (up 2,400 jobs or 5.2%) as goods producers lost 46 jobs (0.5%). Private sector employers added 1,429 jobs (3%), and public sector employers added 925 jobs (10.7%). 

Fargo-Moorhead MSA

Employment in the Fargo-Moorhead MSA was up by 595 (0.4%) over the month of August. Government added 785 jobs (4.2%) with growth at all three levels, led by Local Government which added 626 jobs or 5.7%. Trade, Transportation, and Utilities added 251 jobs (0.8%) from the addition of 195 jobs (1.3%) in Retail Trade. The largest real and proportional job loss in the area came in Leisure and Hospitality, which shed 367 jobs or 2.3%. The only other supersectors to lose jobs were Other Services (down 97 or 1.9%) and Manufacturing (down 26 or 0.1%). 

Over the year employers in the Fargo-Moorhead area lost 112 jobs or 0.1%. Professional and Business Services shed 825 jobs (5.4%), the largest real and proportional declines among the five supersectors to post negative annual growth. The largest positive growth was in Educational and Health Services, which added 883 jobs or 3%. Manufacturing employment was up by 290 jobs or 2.4%.  

Grand Forks-East Grand Forks MSA

Employers in the Grand Forks-East Grand Forks MSA shed 559 jobs or 1% in August. Government employers drove the job decline, losing 434 jobs or 3.5%, thanks to the loss of 423 jobs (6.8%) at the local government level. Movement was minimal in other supersectors, with the largest real job growth coming in Professional and Business Services (up 27 jobs or 0.7%) and the largest proportional growth coming in Information (up 0.9% or 5 jobs). 

Over the year the Grand Forks-East Grand Forks MSA added 715 jobs or 1.3%. Six of 10 published supersectors added jobs, led by Educational and Health Services (up 426 jobs or 4.5%) and Manufacturing (up 154 jobs or 3.3%). The largest real and proportional decline was in Professional and Business Services, which was off by 112 jobs or 2.8%.