Rochester Area Economy Set New Jobs Related Records in June

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Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - The Rochester area economy has now produced new record highs for overall employment in each of the last nine months.

The latest jobs statistics from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development show total employment in Olmsted County rose to just under 91,000 in June. The total was more than 3800 higher than it was a year ago.

The Rochester area also set a new record for the size of its labor force in June. It grew by nearly 800 from May to more than 92,700 last month. The previous record was set in March at a little under 92,450.

Meanwhile, seasonal factors pushed unemployment rates higher across southeastern Minnesota. The jobless rate in the Rochester area jumped from a near-record low of 1.3% in May to 1.9% last month. A similar seasonal increase occurred last year when the unemployment rate for June climbed to 3.2%.

Every county in the region reported higher unemployment rates in June. Houston County had the lowest rate at 1.8%, while Freeborn County reported the highest jobless rate at 2.4%.