SE Minnesota Unemployment Hits 5-Year High

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - Unemployment across southeastern Minnesota at the start of this year was the highest it has been in five years.

Most Counties Reported Jobless Rates Above 5%

The latest jobs data released by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development shows five of the eight counties in the southeastern corner of the state reported jobless rates above 5% in January. Fillmore and Dodge counties had the highest rates at 5.8%. Fillmore County also experienced the sharpest increase, with its unemployment rate up 1.5 percentage points from December.

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Rochester Area Lowest in Region

The Rochester area reported the lowest rate in the region at 4%, which was up eight-tenths of a percentage point from December. The jobless rate in Olmsted County in January 2025 was 3.1%.

The 4% jobless rate in January was also the highest in Olmsted County since March 2021, when it was 4.2%.

MN DEED

Statewide Jobless Rate Higher Than National Average

Statewide, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in January rose to 4.4%. It was also the highest rate in five years and marked the first time Minnesota's jobless rate has been above the national average in nearly two decades.

ALSO SEE: Minnesota Unemployment Hits 5-Year High in January

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