In Duluth, unemployment rate drops as private-sector jobs grow

Duluth city and business leaders are touting new economic data showing record private sector job numbers and low unemployment.

Duluth's unemployment rate dropped to 4.3 percent in August, to its lowest rate since December 2006. Private-sector jobs grew to nearly 110,000 for the broader region, a record high.

Craig Olson, president of the Duluth Building and Construction Trades Council, said construction workers are feeling the improvement in the economy.

"We saw this coming here the past six months," he said. "The men and women in the trades, the working families, they're back to work. Our benches are exhausted."

Duluth Mayor Don Ness said the new data makes him optimistic the city can add about 4,000 residents in the next six years to reach his goal of 90,000 people by the year 2020.