Minnesota’s Unemployment Rate Decreases Slightly

ST. PAUL (AP) - Minnesota's unemployment rate decreased slightly in April.

According to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, the unemployment rate was at a seasonally adjusted 4.7 percent in April compared to 4.8 percent in March.

The manufacturing sector increased by 2,400 jobs, which reaches a post-recession high of 315,000 jobs. The government sector was also up by 1,500 jobs.

Construction and professional and business services lost a combined 4,400 jobs over March.

The department says in the end the state lost 4,200 jobs in April. But the state added nearly 42,000 jobs in the past year, a growth rate of 1.5 percent. The national growth rate is 1.7 percent.

The department also revised its March figures downward from 2,600 jobs gained to 700 jobs gained.