Washington County Gains Jobs Along with Rest of State

Unemployment in Washington County fell in August to 5.5, down from 5.6 in the same month last year.

For the state overall, the seasonally adjusted jobless rate fell to 5.8 percent in September, down from 6.3 percent the same month last year. September data for Washington County was unavailable. 

In a Thursday news release, the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) said Minnesota has gained 34,700 jobs in the past year, and 5,900 in September alone.

“Minnesota has recovered nearly 90,000 jobs since hitting the low point of the recessionthree years ago last month,” Blake Chaffee, DEED director of communications, said in a news release. “The labor market has been steadily improving since then, but we stillhave more work to do.”

Education and health services contributed the most new jobs of any sector, adding 17,300 positions. There were 13,300 new jobs in professional and business services,4,400 new construction jobs, 2,200 jobs in government, 2,100 in manufacturing and1,300 in finance.

Losses were worst in leisure and hospitality, with a loss of 4,900 positions.

The national unemployment rate stood at 7.8 percent in September, down from 9 percent in September 2011.