MINNESOTA JOB GROWTH IN MAY

Minnesota’s unemployment rate edged down to 4.4% in May as the state’s job market continued to rebound. The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development reports employers added a net 5,400 jobs during the month, including 5,900 new private-sector positions that were partially offset by losses in government employment. DEED Deputy Commissioner Kevin McKinnon says Minnesota has now posted job growth for a second straight month after a sluggish start to the year, with gains outpacing the national rate. The largest increases came in the construction and leisure and hospitality sectors. Over the past year, Minnesota has gained nearly 19,700 payroll jobs.