Construction job numbers are rising highest in state

The Minnesota unemployment rate remained unchanged at a seasonally adjusted 5.8 percent in October, according to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. The jobless figure remained well behind the U.S. rate of 7.9 percent in October.

Employers cut 8,100 jobs statewide in October. Those job losses, however, were partially offset by improvements in the September employment figures, which were revised from 5,900 jobs gained statewide to 11,000 jobs gained. Minnesota has added 34,700 jobs in the past year, an increase of 1.3 percent, compared with an increase nationally of 1.4 percent.

Construction led all sectors last month, gaining 1,200 jobs. That was followed by information (up 800), trade, transportation and utilities (up 400), and logging and mining (up 200). Financial activities held steady.

Job losses occurred in professional and business services (down 5,300), government (down 2,500), leisure and hospitality (down 1,100), other services (down 900), education and health services (down 600), and manufacturing (down 300).

Tags: minnesota, business