After three months of increases, Duluth's unemployment dropped to 6.6 percent, down from 6.9 percent in July.
Most of the Northland also saw declines, with fewer people on the unemployment rolls coupled with fewer jobs and a smaller labor force defined as those working and actively looking for jobs, according to state data released today.
The jobless rate in the greater Twin Ports area dropped from 7.1 percent in July to 6.7 percent in August. The Twin Ports area includes all of St. Louis, Carlton and Douglas counties.
Northeastern Minnesota, as well as St. Louis County, also saw declines of 7.1 percent in July to 6.7 percent in August.
The drops largely are seasonal. Unemployment in the Northland usually declines in the fall, beginning in August as schools reopen, experts say.
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Statewide, unemployment rose slightly, from 5.8 percent in July to 5.9 percent in August, though nationwide rates dropped to 8.1 percent, down from 8.3 percent in July.
State and national rates are seasonally adjusted, the local rates are not.
