Unemployment ticked down a bit in Duluth in November but rose across the remainder of the Northland as seasonal and construction jobs withered away.
Duluth's unemployment rate dropped from 7 percent to 6.8 percent, according to Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development data released this morning. But state job analysts said the region as a whole saw unemployment jump more than 1 percentage point, from 7.1 percent to 8.2 percent -- a larger than usual increase.
Across the Duluth-Superior Metropolitan Statistical Area -- which includes all of St. Louis, Douglas and Carlton counties -- the 8.2 percent unemployment rate means nearly 1,400 more people who want a job didn't have one in November compared to October.
Northeastern Minnesota as a whole had an unemployment rate increase to 7.8 percent from 7.1 percent.
State analysts said Duluth benefits from a more diverse economy with strengths in health care, higher education, architecture, engineering and computer system design.
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State officials noted that all areas are showing lower unemployment rates than one year ago.
The state's unemployment rate remained unchanged at 7.1 percent in November from October, though that number is seasonally adjusted, unlike the local numbers announced Tuesday. The U.S. unemployment rate is 9.8 percent.
Other area unemployment rates in November:
