Minnesota's January job gain is largest since 2005

[a kennedy]

Minnesota employers added 15,600 jobs in January, the largest one-month gain in state employment since April 2005, according to figures released today by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).

Minnesota's unemployment rate fell from 7.4 percent in December to 7.3 percent in January, a sign that the recovery may at last be taking hold in the state. The U.S. unemployment rate was 9.7 percent in January.

The labor force participation rate in Minnesota climbed slightly to 72.5 percent in January, up from 72.3 percent in December. The national labor force participation rate was 64.7 percent in January and 64.6 percent in December. The labor force participation rate is the percent of working-age people who are employed or seeking work.

"We're encouraged by the improvement in the labor market," said DEED Commissioner Dan McElroy. "The unemployment rate has been trending downward in recent months, but it's still too early to say whether the state economy has reached a turning point."

Eight of the state's 11 industrial sectors added jobs in January, led by trade, transportation and utilities and by professional and business services, which each added 4,000 jobs. Other gains occurred in manufacturing (up 3,000), construction (up 2,100), leisure and hospitality (up 1,500), other services (up 900), government (up 800) and information (up 500). Logging and mining held steady.

full: <http://www.startribune.com/business/85950972.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUUI>

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