Minnesota Ahead of Nation in Job Growth

ST. PAUL (AP) - Minnesota labor officials say February was another strong month for employment with the state adding 14,500 jobs.

Over the past year, Minnesota has gained about 62,400 jobs for a 2.3 percent growth rate that tops the national rate of 1.5 percent. State labor market economist Steve Hine says the private sector has nearly regained all of the jobs it lost in the recession.

Minnesota's seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate of 5.5 percent in February is unchanged from January. The national rate in February was 7.7 percent unemployment.

Professional and business service led all sectors with about 6,800 job gains in Minnesota. Government lost about 1,000 jobs during the month and manufacturing saw a loss of 800.