Minnesota unemployment rate stays at 5.6% after 900 jobs cut in May

Published 10:23 am Thursday, June 14, 2012

As the economy continues its sluggish pace, Minnesota’s employers cut 900 jobs in May and the unemployment rate stayed at 5.6 percent.

The April job numbers were revised from 3,100 jobs lost to 900 jobs lost, according to a state report.

“Although job growth has flattened in recent months, several sectors are doing relatively well compared with the rest of the country,” said Mark Phillips, commissioner of the state’s employment department.

Construction was one sector outperforming the nation, gaining nearly 4,200 jobs over the past year.

During May, government hiring led all sectors, adding 1,200 jobs. Other gains occurred in manufacturing, construction, education and health services and trade, transportation and utilities.

High-paying professional and business services jobs were cut, information jobs were down, the leisure and hospitality sector lost jobs and finance jobs were cut.

This marks the third year that hiring in the fall and winter fizzled over the spring and summer.