Rochester Area Unemployment Rate Remains at 5 Year High

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - Unemployment in the Rochester area in February moved slightly higher and remained at a level not seen in about five years.

Highest Since Early 2021

The latest job statistics from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development show the jobless rate for Olmsted County edged up a tenth of a percentage point to 4.1% from January to February. That is the highest the rate has been since January 2021. It's also seven-tenths of a percentage point above the unemployment rate from February of last year.

Overall Employment Down 4000 From Record High

The data from the state agency also indicates that overall employment in the Rochester area was down significantly from the record high reported last summer, when it reached more than 91,600. The employment total for February was just under 87,600, although seasonal factors contributed significantly to the decline, with historical statistics showing total employment traditionally peaks in the summer months.

Regional Unemployment

Across the region, the unemployment rate in Olmsted County remained the lowest in the southeastern corner of Minnesota. Dodge County had the highest rate at 5.8%, which matched the jobless rate from January.

Fillmore, Freeborn, and Houston counties reported slightly lower unemployment rates in February, with Houston County experiencing the largest drop in the region at nearly half of a percentage point.

The remaining counties reported either steady unemployment rates or an increase of a tenth of a percentage point from January.