Construction Jobs Lower Minnesota Unemployment Rate

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota’s unemployment rate is trickling down.

The state announced Thursday that November job gains helped drive the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment down from 4 percent to 3.8 percent. The decrease follows several months of modest upticks in the share of out-of-work Minnesota residents.

Department of Employment and Economic Development data shows the state added 5,000 jobs in November, with the bulk coming from construction jobs. Gains in other industries helped offset heavy job losses in professional and business services.

Department Commissioner Shawntera Hardy says it’s a sign that Minnesota’s economy is fundamentally strong. She expects the job growth trend to continue into 2017.

The unemployment decrease keeps Minnesota well below the national unemployment rate of 4.6 percent.