Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - An annual review and revision of jobs data collected and analyzed by the state significantly lowered the job growth numbers reported for the Rochester area over the past year.

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development lowered its estimate of the number of jobs added in the Rochester area in 2024 by more than 3200, dropping the annualized job growth rate from 4.7% down to 2.1%, which was still the strongest growth rate in the state. Prior to the revisions, the state had reported that Rochester's economy added nearly 5900 jobs last year and now puts the total at just under 2600.

The report cut the city's job growth rate down to just over 2%

Starting out the new year, the latest jobs statistics indicate the Rochester area has added more than 6100 jobs over the past 12 months. That works out to a job growth rate of 5%.

While the revision process greatly lowered the Rochester area is job growth rate, the Department of Employment and Economic Development revised the numbers for the Twin Cities area significantly upward. The original statistics indicated the Twin Cities area added about 4500 jobs last year. The revisions boosted that total by more than 10,600 jobs to about 15,200 for an annual job growth rate of .8.

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The latest numbers for January now indicate the Twin Cities area has added about 17,600 jobs in the previous 12 months for a job growth rate of .9.