Minnesota loses 5.2K jobs in 'disappointing' December jobs report

(THE MED CITY BEAT) - After months of consistent job growth, 2014 ended on a sour note for Minnesota workers.

State employers cut 5,200 jobs in December, according to numbers released Thursday by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic. The bulk of the cuts affected government employees.

The state also revised figures that reduced November's gains by 4,000 jobs.

“We’ll file this one under the category of all good things must come to an end,” said Steve Hine, the labor market economist for the state, according to a report by the Star Tribune.

The paper notes job growth for the 2014 calender year was the weakest since 2010. 

Despite the losses, Minnesota's seasonably-adjusted unemployment rate dropped down to 3.6 percent in December, two full points below the national average. 

Rochester MSA has gained 709 jobs in the past 12 months, an employment increase of 0.7.

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(Cover photo: File / kate hiscock / Creative Commons)