ST. PAUL, MN – Today, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED)
released its latest monthly jobs report. The report noted that Minnesota’s statewide unemployment rate of 3.1 percent marks a 17-year low, down from 6.9 percent in January 2011. Today’s report also noted that that the 12-month average unemployment rate among black Minnesotans is the lowest ever recorded, at 7.5 percent, down from 23.5 percent in 2011.
The following is a statement from Governor Mark Dayton:
“Minnesota’s economy has greatly improved over the last seven years, with our state’s employers adding nearly 297,700 new jobs since January 2011. I am also very pleased to see that deep employment disparities among African Americans in Minnesota are continuing to improve. Despite this progress, we have more work to do to ensure that all Minnesotans, in every community across our state, have better access to employment opportunities and growing wages.”
To learn more about today’s latest jobs report,
visit the DEED website. To look up local unemployment rates in your city, county, or region,
CLICK HERE. To learn more about unemployment rates in Minnesota by demographics (race, age, and gender),
CLICK HERE.
Leading By Example
Over the last several years, Governor Dayton has sought to ensure that the State of Minnesota – one of our state’s largest employers – is building a workforce that better reflects the diversity of the people we serve. To that end, the Governor has directed his Administration to increase the percentage of workers of color in state government to 20 percent by the end of his term in office.
In January 2011, just 8 percent of state employees were people of color. Today, 12 percent of the state’s workforce are people of color – and that number is growing. Now, over 19 percent of all new hires in state government are people of color, better-reflecting the rich diversity of Minnesota and our state’s workforce. The Governor remains committed to building on this progress in the year ahead.
