Minnesota’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate ticked down to 4.1 percent in April, from 4.2 percent in March, according to numbers released today by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). The unemployment rate decline was due to people moving from unemployment to employment. The U.S. unemployment rate rose one-tenth to 6.1 percent in April.
For the fourth straight month, Minnesota gained jobs. Minnesota gained 11,300 jobs in April on a seasonally adjusted basis, up 0.4 percent, following growth of 20,400 (adjusted) jobs in March, 12,400 jobs in February and 51,600 jobs in January. Minnesota’s private sector gained 8,100 jobs of those 11,300 jobs in April, up 0.3 percent. The U.S. gained 266,000 jobs, up 0.2 percent over the month in April.
Minnesota lost 416,300 jobs from February through April 2020 and has since gained 235,300 jobs, or 56.5 percent of the jobs lost on a seasonally adjusted basis. The private sector has regained 57.7 percent of the jobs lost.
“We’re continuing to see job growth,” said DEED Commissioner Steve Grove. “At DEED, we are proactively working with Minnesotans looking for work and connecting them with employers who need talent. There are many good jobs available now.”
Many Minnesotans, particularly those from Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) communities, are looking for work now. Based on 12-month moving averages, the unemployment rate for Black Minnesotans was 8.9 percent in April, down from 9.0 percent in March and up from 4.3 percent one year ago. The Latinx unemployment rate was 7.7 percent in April, holding steady from March, and up from 4.4 percent one year ago. White Minnesotans were at 5.6 percent in April, down from 5.9 percent in March, and up from 3.5 percent one year ago.
In April, Minnesota gained 230,463 payroll jobs, up 9.0 percent over the year. April 2021 gains put Minnesota 165,852 jobs short of April 2019 employment. The private sector gained 218,040 jobs, up 10.1 percent over the year, putting the private sector 150,042 jobs short of its April 2019 level. U.S. employment grew 10.9 percent over the year with the private sector up 13.3 percent in April.
