New High Marks For Employment & Labor Force in the Rochester Area

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - The Rochester area's economy continued to set records last month.

The latest jobs data from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development shows overall employment in Olmsted County rose to a new record high of almost 93,475 in August. The total was nearly 250 above the previous record set in July.

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The size of the local labor force also hit a new record high last month. It rose about 200 above the previous record set in July to 96,260.

READ MORE: Rochester Area Shatters Records For Employment & Labor Force Size

The increase in the size of the labor force nearly paced the growth in employment, which left the number of people officially classified as unemployed in Olmsted County at just over 1000 in August. That also left the local unemployment rate at 2.9%, which is the highest it has been in three years.

Across the region, Houston County had the lowest unemployment rates last month at 2.7%, while Freeborn County reported the largest drop, with its jobless rate falling from 4.2% to 3.5% from July to August. Goodhue County reported the highest jobless rate in southeastern Minnesota at 3.6%.

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