Minnesota employers cut 900 jobs in May, but the state unemployment rate remained at 5.6 percent — considerably better than the national rate of 8.2 percent — according to Thursday's report from the state Department of Employment and Economic Development.
"Although job growth has flattened in recent months, several sectors in Minnesota are doing relatively well compared with the rest of the country," said DEED Commissioner Mark Phillips. "Construction has been the state's fastest-growing sector over the past year, gaining nearly 4,200 jobs and outperforming the nation by a healthy margin."
Officials also adjusted the April job numbers, saying 900 jobs were lost that month, too, instead of the 3,100 jobs lost reported earlier.
Over the past year, the state has gained 22,600 jobs, a growth rate of 0.8 percent.
By sector, government added the most jobs in the state, up 1,200 jobs.
Professional and business services lost the most: 1,600 jobs.