Indicator 38: Unemployment Rate


Rationale: The unemployment rate affects people’s financial well-being as well as overall state economic growth.
About this indicator: As the economy slumped in the 2000s, the annual unemployment rate grew from 4.0 percent in 2000 to 8.0 percent in 2009. Unemployment has leveled and begun to decline in 2010. The US average for 2009 was 9.3 percent.

For comparison: In November, 2010 the state unemployment rate stood at 7.1 percent seasonally adjusted, lower than the U.S. rate of 9.8 percent. Unemployment has declined moderately during 2010.
Things to think about: The unemployment rate is estimated and does not always follow the trend in other labor market indicators such as the number of jobs. The unemployment rate can go down if people give up looking for jobs, or conversely it can go up if improved economic prospects draw more workers into the job market.
Sources:
- Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, http://www.deed.state.mn.us/lmi/Home.htm