The number of people employed in St. Louis, Carlton and Douglas counties in November 2006 reached the highest November total since 1990, according to data from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.
The high employment numbers and a relatively low unemployment rate indicate a relatively strong economy, said Matt Schoeppner, a labor market analyst for DEED.
The unemployment rate for November was 4.4 percent, which was slightly lower than the 4.5 percent posted a year earlier.
"We're seeing the job number stabilize going into the new year," Schoeppner said. Although the final annual unemployment rate tally is not yet available for the three-county Duluth Metropolitan Statistical Area, it appears that the annual jobless rate could be 5 percent or lower. That would equal or beat the 2005 rate, Schoeppner said. The percentages are not adjusted for normal seasonal fluctuations.
DEED reported that the labor force, which is made up of people working and those looking for work, was 145,639 in November -- also the highest for any November since 1990 -- and the number of employed workers was 139,219. That left 6,420 unemployed.
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Although most employment sectors grew from November 2005 to November 2006, hospitals and ambulatory health care showed the highest percentage of growth at 4.8 percent and 4.6 percent, respectively.
DEED data showed a 0.3 percent drop in natural resources, construction and mining employment and a 0.8 percent decline in manufacturing workers during the 12 months ending in November.
