Minnesota’s Unemployment Rate Holds Steady Despite Job Losses

Despite a loss of 9,900 jobs in September, the unemployment rate in Minnesota managed to hold steady at 7 percent.

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development reported state and local governments cut 3,800 jobs last month and the private-sector trimmed another 6,100 jobs. The unemployment rate managed to remain flat because it measures only the number of people actively seeking a job, but not currently working.

“September’s employment picture is a reminder that economic recoveries are uneven,” DEED Commissioner Dan McElroy told MinnPost.com. He went on to describe September’s job losses as “disappointing” and “surprising.”

There was some positive news in the report. The construction sector gained 3,100 jobs, which is the fourth straight month of increases and the best showing since April 2005, MinnPost.com reports.

There was some positive news in the report. The construction sector gained 3,100 jobs, which is the fourth straight month of increases and the best showing since April 2005, according to MinnPost.com. And, manufacturing employment is up 2.9 percent from a year ago.

Additionally, the average work week in Minnesota came in at 33.1 hours, which was up from 32.2 hours in September 2009.