Jobs Data Show June Was a Record-Setting Month in Rochester Area

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - The latest jobs data released by the state shows the Rochester area economy experienced a record-setting month in June.

The statistics published by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development shows the size of the local labor force hit an all-time high and total employment tied a record set earlier this year.

The labor force total for Olmsted County reached just over 94,400 last month. It marked the first time that number has been above 94,000.

Meanwhile, total employment in the County was put at 91,718, which is tied with April of this year as the highest job total reported for the Rochester area since the state began tracking the statistic in 1976.

Despite the record high employment, the unemployment rate for Olmsted County jumped from 2% in May to 2.8% last month. Much of the increase was due to seasonal factors, but the Rochester area June jobless rate was the highest since January 2022.

Unemployment rates were higher throughout southeastern Minnesota. The biggest increase was reported in Freeborn County, where the jobless rate rose more than 1.5 percentage points and the 4% unemployment rate for last month was the highest in the region.