Minnesota employers add 3,400 jobs in June

Minnesota gained jobs for the second consecutive month in June, as employers added 3,400 positions. That's on top of 2,500 additional jobs in May.

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Oriane Casale of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development says the state's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped to 5.3 percent. Meanwhile, the national unemployment rate held steady at 5.5 percent in June.

"Well , it's certainly positive news. We also remained at 0.3 percent over-the-year job growth, which is where we've been for the past couple of months. And at the same time, the nation has gone into negative territory," Casale said. "So, it looks like we're holding our own in terms on the nation-wide economy."

Minnesota has added 1,900 jobs through the first half of the year. But the nation has lost more than 400,000 jobs during that period.

Job growth was especially strong in June for Minnesota manufacturers, suggesting their international sales are getting a boost from the weak U.S. dollar. A weak dollar makes U.S. exports cheaper for foreign buyers.

Preliminary data indicates Minnesota's manufactured exports are up nearly 10 percent this year through May.