Rochester Trails Statewide Job Growth in Latest DEED Report

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - The latest jobs report for Minnesota continues to suggest the rapid job growth experienced in Rochester over the last couple of years has plateaued.

Very Modest Job Gains in June

Statistics published by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development show the Rochester area economy has seen a net gain of just under 385 jobs during the past year. That puts the annual job growth rate in June at only 0.3%.

MN DEED

Improvement From Previous 2 Months

The small gain for the 12-month period ending in June was an improvement from the previous month, when the state agency reported a negative job growth rate of 0.1%, with a year-over-year loss of 116 jobs in May. The jobs report for April estimated that the Rochester area experienced a year-over-year net loss of nearly 1,100 jobs.

READ MORE: Rochester Area Economy Nearly Erases April Employment Losses

Twin Cities and Minnesota Experienced Strong Job Growth

For an extended period of time, the Rochester area was vastly outperforming the Twin Cities in job growth, but that was not the case last month. The report shows the Twin Cities experienced a year-over-year gain of more than 29,000 jobs in June for a job growth rate of 1.5%.

Photo by Andy Brownell TSM Rochester

Mankato also outperformed Rochester last month with a job growth rate of 1.6%, while St. Cloud had a job growth rate of 0.4%. Duluth was the only major city in the state with a negative job growth rate in June due to a year-over-year loss of more than 230 jobs.

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Minnesota's overall job growth rate in June was 1.7%, with the data showing a net gain of more than 51,000 jobs since June of last year. The statewide rate was significantly higher than the national average, which increased by only 0.3%.

Unemployment Rate Steady

The DEED report indicates Minnesota experienced a net gain of 13,200 jobs during the month of June. That put the statewide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate at 4.4%, matching the jobless rate reported in May.