Regional unemployment rose slightly again in April, with Steele County unusually topping even the national average.

Tuesday, May 22, 2001

Regional unemployment rose slightly again in April, with Steele County unusually topping even the national average.

Most counties stayed at or below the state average of 3.9 percent. Blue Earth County had the lowest percentage of unemployed at 2.8 percent. Steele County’s unemployment rose .5 percent to 4.3 percent in April, according to the Minnesota Department of Economic Security (MDES).

Minnesota’s seasonally unadjusted unemployment rate for April was 3.9 percent, said MDES Commissioner Earl Wilson. The April rate was up from March’s 3.4 percent and also up from last year’s benchmarked rate of 3.3 percent.

Statewide, nonfarm employment grew by a seasonally unadjusted one-tenth percent in April, a gain of 3,100 jobs. Construction again added employment, continuing a trend seen for the last six months. Retail trade, finance, insurance, and real estate; mining and government also saw seasonally unadjusted increases for the month, according to MDES.

&uot;History has shown that Minnesota outpaces the nation’s economy during expansions and weathers national economic slowdowns better as well,&uot; said Gov. Jesse Ventura. &uot;Our economy is continuing to add jobs and offer many employment opportunities.&uot;

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April’s seasonally unadjusted employment numbers:

County 4/01 3/01 4/00

Blue Earth 2.8 2.8 2.2

Freeborn 3.9 3.9 4.0

Mower 3.0 3.1 2.4

Steele 4.3 3.8 2.9

Waseca 3.8 4.2 3.1

Minn. 3.9 3.8 3.3

U.S. 4.2 4.6 3.7