As the Duluth Metropolitan Statistical Area labor force grew in April, the local unemployment rate rose slightly to 5.8 percent, according to figures released last week by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.
In April 2006, the jobless rate was 5.4 percent.
"It looks like we followed some state trends there," said DEED regional labor analyst Matt Schoeppner, noting that the Minnesota unemployment rate rose even more, to 4.6 percent from 4 percent a year ago.
Wisconsin's jobless rate rose to 5.3 percent from
4.9 percent a year earlier, according to the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. The state and regional numbers are unadjusted for normal seasonal fluctuations.
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The metropolitan statistical area includes St. Louis, Carlton and Douglas counties.
One reason for the MSA's increase probably is the increased number of people in the labor force. Seasonal hiring of construction, leisure and hospitality workers grew from March to April and those figures could continue to increase in May.
Last month DEED estimated 144,123 in the labor force, more than 1,400 higher than April 2006. "That's a real positive sign," Schoeppner said. He also noted that a separate data set shows private employment has risen 1.7 percent from a year ago.
