Minnesota Unemployment Rate Unchanged in August

ST. PAUL  (AP) - Minnesota's unemployment rate didn't budge last month, even as employers added more than 28,000 jobs mainly due to state employees being back on the job after a government shutdown.

The Department of Employment and Economic Development said Thursday that the jobless rate held steady at 7.2 percent in August.

More than 22,000 of the job gains came from government workers being back at work after a 20-day shutdown in July, while the private sector added 5,800 jobs.

Employment and Economic Development Commissioner Mark Phillips says the private-sector jobs were a "bright spot" in Minnesota's economy.

He says initial unemployment claims also fell to their lowest level in three years, at slightly less than 20,000.

Jobs were added in manufacturing and construction while the hospitality industry shed workers.

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