Rochester Area Shatters Records For Employment & Labor Force Size

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - Overall employment in the Rochester area hit a record high last month but the unemployment rate was also the highest reported in nearly 3 years.

The latest jobs data from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development shows the employment total for Olmsted County was nearly 1500 positions higher than the previous record set in June at nearly 93,400. At the same time, the size of the local labor force climbed to almost 96,200 workers, also surpassing the previous record set in June at just over 94,500.

The unemployment rate for Olmsted County in July was up a tenth of a percentage point from June at 2.9%. It has not been that high since September 2021. By comparison, the jobless rate in April was 1.9% and it dipped as low as 1.4% last October.

Across southeastern Minnesota, Olmsted County was tied with Houston County for the lowest unemployment rate, although Houston County saw its jobless rate dipped nearly a half of a percentage point from June. The highest unemployment rate in the region was found in Freeborn County at 4.2%.