West central Minnesota job seekers outnumber jobs 5-1

excerpted from Chokio Review, March 26, 2009

The latest Job Vacancy Survey from DEED shows that in west central Minnesota there are 6,700 unemployed workers competing for only 1,3200 unfilled jobs. This means that job seekers outnumber job openings by more than 5 to 1 (Figures for job seekers and job opendings from fourth quarter 2008).

Other findings include:

• 60 percent of all openings are part time.
• Only 45 percent of openings offer health care.
• 27 percent require education or training beyond high school.

Get more area labor data from DEED.

1,700 jobs added in May, but unemployment grows

Minnesota employers added 1,700 jobs in May, accoridng to figures released by the Minnesota Dept. of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).

The state remained ahead of the U.S> pace for employment growth in the part year, expanding by 0.3 percent or 7,170 jobs since May 2007. The U.S. over-the-year growth rate was 0.1 percent during that period.

The unemployment rate grew .6 percent to a rate of 5.4 percent in May even while the state was adding jobs because the two categories are derived from different statistical information. The rate reflects 12,000 jobs in Minensota lost in April.

"Although the economy continues to present challenges, Minensota is performing better in many sectors thatn the country as a whole," said DEED Commissioner Dan McElroy.

Read entire release.