Minnesota employers ended the year with another strong month of job growth. According to the Department of of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) the state gained 9,100 jobs in December. Minnesota’s total number of jobs added in 2015 was 42,485 jobs, up 1.5 percent from 2014. Nationally, the job growth rate was 1.9 percent for the year.
“The state labor market finished the year with a surge, adding 18,300 jobs in the final two months. Nearly all signs point to continued growth in Minnesota in 2016,” – Katie Clark Sieben, DEED Commissioner
The state unemployment rate fell to a seasonally adjusted 3.5 percent in December . The U.S. unemployment rate was 5 percent.
Government led with 4,300 jobs added in December, hospitality added 2,800 jobs, education and health services added 2,100 jobs, financial activities added 2,000, manufacturing added 1,600 jobs and construction added 1,300 jobs.
Comparing metropolitan area job gains, Minneapolis-St. Paul was up 1.8 percent for the year, Duluth was up .5 percent and Mankato was up .1 percent. Rochester was down .3 percent and St. Cloud was down .1 percent.
