MN jobless rate steady at 3.7 percent in July; 7,700 jobs added

Minnesota's unemployment rate came in at a seasonally adjusted 3.7 percent in July as employers added 7,700 jobs, state officials said Thursday.

The July jobless rate was unchanged from June and remained significantly below the 4.3 percent rate for the nation.

Minnesota has added 66,701 jobs in the past year, an increase of 2.3 percent, compared with a national growth rate of 1.5 percent during that period, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development reported.

"Minnesota is outperforming the rest of the country in a number of key economic measures, including the overall unemployment rate, labor force participation and employment-to-population ratio," DEED Commissioner Shawntera Hardy said in a statement.

Sectors that gained jobs in July included Education and health services (8,400 jobs), leisure and hospitality (up 2,800) and government (up 1,600). Sectors that lost jobs included trade, transportation and services (down 2,600), professional and business services (down 1,500) and financial activities (down 1,400).