Olmsted County’s Employment Tops 80k

Despite an increase of 1200 jobs last month, Olmsted County’s unemployment rate rose slightly to 3.9 percent. It was estimated at 3.7 percent in May.

The rate in June last year was 4.4 percent.

The slight uptick was most likely the result of a seasonal increase in the number of residents looking for work, such as students.

The labor force grew by more than 1400 from May. The number of jobs in June was put at more than 80,400, the highest the monthly total has been since last August.

All counties in southeast Minnesota reported slight increases from May to June. Winona and Houston counties had the highest at 4.6 percent.