Minnesota’s unemployment remained steady in December, according to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained steady at the previous month’s rate of 3.3%.
The U.S. unemployment rate also remained consistent from the previous month at 3.5%.
Minnesota added 3,978 jobs on a seasonally adjusted basis since December 2018, a 0.1% increase. Additionally, the average wage rate within the private sector increased by 24 cents in December, a 4% increase over the year.
The state’s labor force participation rate remained at 70.3%, compared to a national rate of 63.2%.
“Minnesota remains a national leader in labor force participation rates as more Minnesotans are stepping from the sidelines to employment, however we continue to experience a tight labor market and slowing job growth,” said DEED Commissioner Steve Grove.
Construction saw more job losses in December, down 200 jobs from the previous month. Other industries that saw job losses included Education and Health Services, Manufacturing, and Information.
In the state’s Metropolitan Statistical Areas, almost all geographical areas saw small increases: Minneapolis-St. Paul MSA (up 0.1%), Rochester MSA (up 0.1%), St. Cloud MSA (up 0.7%), Duluth-Superior MSA (down 0.4%), and Mankato MSA (up 1%).
