How many jobs were lost in Minnesota last month?
Refreshed monthly
Minnesota lost 4,600 jobs in September 2026, ranking it 41st among states in job growth. Those figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' state employment report, which tracks monthly job changes. Job numbers can swing month to month as local economies expand or contract, but over the past five years the state has averaged about 3,600 new jobs per month. These figures are often revised in later months as more complete data rolls in.
-4.6K
month to month change in number of jobs (September 2026)
41st
rank among states in monthly job growth (September 2026)
Minnesota’s job loss of 4,600 in September 2026 was a directional change from the previous month. The latest monthly job change was down from the 2,500 gain in August 2026.
During the latest five year period (October 2021 to September 2026), Minnesota gained jobs in 43 out of 60 months. September 2026 had the ninth-lowest job growth during this period. The highest gains during this period occurred in October 2021 (+35,800) while job growth was weakest in July 2024 (-9,600).
There were 4,600 fewer jobs in September 2026 in Minnesota than the previous month.
Monthly change in nonfarm employment, October 2021–September 2026, seasonally adjusted
Which Minnesota sectors and industries had the best and worst job growth in September 2026?
The three supersectors with the highest job growth in September 2026 were durable goods, construction, and accommodation and food services. Durable goods added 1,600 jobs, more than the entire economy. Construction gained 1,100 jobs, while accommodation and food services added 1,100. The remaining supersectors either posted smaller gains or lost jobs during the month.
The three lowest-performing supersectors were private educational services, health care and social assistance, and wholesale trade. private educational services lost 3,800 jobs in September 2026, while health care and social assistance lost 1,900 jobs and wholesale trade lost 1,900 jobs.
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The health care and social assistance sector lost 1,900 jobs during September 2026.
Change in jobs since previous month with circle size representing number of sector jobs in Minnesota (September 2026)
How has Minnesota's job growth changed over time?
In 2025, Minnesota gained an average of 375 jobs every month. That's lower than the 2024 average monthly increase of 3,117, and the lowest since 2020. The 2025 average ranks as 16th-highest in job growth since 2007.
When excluding the two pandemic-affected years of 2020 and 2021, job growth ranged from a loss of 8,100 on average every month in 2009 to a gain of 4,400 on average every month in 2011.
In 2025, Minnesota gained an average of 375 jobs every month.
Average monthly change in the number of jobs, seasonally adjusted
Job growth among five metro areas primarily in Minnesota during September 2026 ranged from a loss of 1,400 jobs in the Rochester, MN area to a gain of 200 jobs in the Minneapolis, MN area.
Monthly job growth, by metro area
Metro areas where at least one of its primary counties are within Minnesota
| Metro area | Change in jobs | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | +200 | |
| 2. | +100 | |
| 3. | +100 | |
| 4. | +0 | |
| 5. | -300 | |
| 6. | -600 | |
| 7. | -1,100 | |
| 8. | -1,400 |
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Methodology
USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.
Page sources
USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.
