Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Minnesota posted strong job and labor force growth in March, according to information released today by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.

The state gained an estimated 11,000 jobs in the last month on a seasonally adjusted basis, up 0.4%, with the private sector up roughly 8,000 jobs, up 0.3%, according to a press release. Minnesota’s labor force increased by an estimated 3,000 people over the month, bumping the labor force participation rate up one-tenth of a percent to 68%. The unemployment rate remained steady at 2.7%.

“March was a great month all around for Minnesota employers and workers,” said DEED Commissioner Matt Varilek. “Our strong job and labor force growth shows that Minnesota’s economy continues to provide great opportunities for Minnesota residents as well as those who would like to call Minnesota home.”

Five supersectors in Minnesota gained jobs on a seasonally adjusted basis since the prior month, including, most notably, leisure and hospitality up 5,000 jobs, government up 3,000 jobs, education and health services up 2,800 jobs and construction up 2,700 jobs. Six supersectors stayed steady or lost jobs but the losses were small in comparison to the large gains in other sectors.

“Key labor market indicators are trending positive,” said DEED’s Labor Market Information Director Angelina Nguyễn. “In short, more people are employed, and wage growth is outpacing inflation.”

Over the year, Minnesota gained 47,508 jobs, up 1.6%, with the private sector up 23,161 jobs or 0.9%.