Minnesota adds 9,500 jobs in November; unemployment rate falls to 3.1%

FARGO (KFGO) – Minnesota gained 9,500 jobs from October to November, the fifth straight month of growth, and the largest increase since January.

According to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, the unemployment rate went down one-tenth of a percentage point to 3.1% in November, compared to 3.7% nationally. Over the month, eight of 11 super-sectors gained jobs on a seasonally adjusted basis. 

Top sectors were the trade, transportation and utilities industry, which added 3,300 jobs over the past month, and education and health services, which added 2,700.

DEED Commissioner Matt Varilek said: “Minnesota continues to see sustained and notable job growth and we’re consistently adding jobs at a faster rate than the national average, which is phenomenal news for workers. We are confident that current and soon-to-be-launched efforts by DEED and our workforce development partners to connect people with employment and to help connect employers with often overlooked labor pools will bring more people into the labor force in 2024.”

Over the past year, Minnesota has gained 47,829 jobs, up 1.6% in annualized job growth. Nationally, U.S. employment grew 1.8% over the past year.

Story by Ryan Janke / KFGO