Construction hiring adds speed to Minnesota’s jobs comeback

Minnesota’s job recovery picked up in March with the state adding back 21,600 jobs, putting the state at the highest job level seen so far during the pandemic.

That was an acceleration from the month before, when the state gained 13,900 jobs.

The largest additions in March were in construction, which added 7,900 jobs, professional and business services, which was up 5,500 jobs, and leisure and hospitality, which increased by 4,300 jobs.

Minnesota has now gained back about 54% of the jobs it lost in the first few months of the pandemic.

In addition, the state’s unemployment rate fell slightly in March to 4.2%, down from an upwardly revised 4.4% in February, according to data released today by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).

The decline in the jobless rate was due to both people finding jobs as well as some people leaving the labor force. In the latter category, it was primarily unemployed people who had stopped looking for work.

“It’s good to see Minnesota’s job growth reach its highest levels since the beginning of the pandemic, but we still have a long way to go,” DEED Commissioner Steve Grove said in a statement. “There are over 100,000 job postings in the state, and we need to make sure more Minnesotans are aware of these opportunities to get back into the labor force.”

Minnesota’s labor force participation rate dropped two-tenths of a percent to 67.8%, matching what it was in April 2020. It was 70.2% in February 2020, before the effects of the pandemic.

Other areas that saw decent job gains in March include trade, transportation and utilities, which was up 3,900 jobs and manufacturing, which added 1,900 jobs.

Those additions were offset by losses in government, which was down 1,700 jobs, financial activities, which lost 500 jobs, and information which declined by 400 jobs.

Minnesota continues to perform better than the nation as a whole, with the U.S. unemployment rate recently falling two-tenths to 6% and the U.S. labor force participation rate inching up to 61.5%.

However, people of color in Minnesota continue to be disproportionately affected by job losses. Based on 12-month moving averages, the unemployment rate for Black Minnesotas declined to 9%, from 9.2% the month before. That’s double what it was a year ago.

Meanwhile, the Latino unemployment rate ticked up to 7.7% in March, from 7.5% in February. The unemployment rate for white Minnesotans was unchanged at 5.9%, also based on the 12-month moving average.

Kavita Kumar • 612-673-4113 Twitter: @kavitakumar

rn{% endblock %}"},"start":"https://users.startribune.com/placement/1/environment/3/limit-signup-optimizely/start"},{"id":"limit-signup","count":12,"action":"ignore","mute":true,"action_config":{"template":"{% extends "grid" %}rnrn{% block heading_text %}Youu2019ve read your 10 free articles for this 30 day period. Sign up now for local coverage you wonu2019t find anywhere else, special sections and your favorite columnists. StarTribune puts Minnesota and the world right at your fingertips. {% endblock %}rnrn{% block last %}rn{{ parent() }}rn{# limit Krux pixel from https://www.squishlist.com/strib/customshop/328/ #}rnrnrn{% endblock %}"},"start":"https://users.startribune.com/placement/1/environment/3/limit-signup/start"},{"id":"meter-desktop-331","count":10,"action":"ignore","mute":false,"action_config":false,"start":"https://users.startribune.com/placement/1/environment/3/meter-desktop-331/start"},{"id":"PDA991499opt","count":9,"action":"ignore","mute":true,"action_config":false,"start":"https://users.startribune.com/placement/1/environment/3/PDA991499opt/start"},{"id":"limit","count":8,"action":"inject","mute":false,"action_config":{"template":"

rnrnrnrn

rn

rn

rn rn

rn t

rn SUBSCRIBErn Already a subscriber? Log in.rn

rn

All Star Tribune readers without a Digital Access subscription are given a limited number of complimentary articles every 30 days. Once the article limit is reached we ask readers to purchase a subscription including Digital Access to continue reading. Digital Access is included in all multi-day paper home delivery, Sunday + Digital, and Premium Digital Access subscriptions. After the 1 month Premium Digital Access introductory period you will be charged at a rate of $14.99 per month. You can see all subscription options or login to an existing subscription herern

rn rn

rn

rn

rn

rn

rn"},"start":"https://users.startribune.com/placement/1/environment/3/limit/start"},{"id":"nag","count":7,"action":"lightbox","mute":true,"action_config":{"height":null,"width":"630px","redirect_on_close":null,"template":"{% extends "shell" %}rnrn{% block substyles %}rn

rn{% endblock %}rnrn{% block page %}rn{#rnrn{{ limit - count - 1 }}rnrn{{ form.flow_form_open({nextAction: 'firstSlide'}, null, null, '_top') }}rn {{ form.btn('Save Now') }}rn{{ form.flow_form_close() }}rnrn

rnrnrnu2022 rnrnrnrn#}rn

rn

rn

You have {{ limit - count - 1 }} articles left

rn

rn rn u00a0u00a0u2022u00a0u00a0rn rn

rn

rn

rn

rn Save More Todayrn

Over 70% off!

rn

rn

rn

rn

99u00a2 for first 4 weeks

rn {{ form.flow_form_open({nextAction: 'firstSlide'}, null, null, '_top') }}rn {{ form.button('Save Now', 'btn nag-btn') }}rn {{ form.flow_form_close() }}rn

rn

rn{% endblock %}rnrn{% block last %}rn{{ parent() }}rnrn{% endblock %}"},"start":"https://users.startribune.com/placement/1/environment/3/nag/start"},{"id":"x","count":4,"action":"ignore","mute":true,"action_config":false,"start":"https://users.startribune.com/placement/1/environment/3/x/start"},{"id":"multi-start","count":3,"action":"fly_in","mute":true,"action_config":{"location":"bottom_left","slide_direction":"bottom","group_id":null,"display_delay":"0","collapse_delay":"10","template":"

rn

rn

rn

rn u00d7rn

rn

rn

From just

rn

$3.79 99u00a2 a week

rn Save nowrn

rn

rn

"},"start":"https://users.startribune.com/placement/1/environment/3/multi-start/start"}]};

Share