Minnesota shutdown pushes up Duluth-area jobless rate

Jobless rates — Minnesota unemployment rate rose to 7.2 percent in July and nationwide to 9.1 percent. (2009 file / News Tribune)

By Candace Renalls

August 23, 2011 at 12:12 PM

As expected, the unemployment rate in Duluth edged up to 8 percent in July, largely due to the three-week state government shutdown.

In June, Duluth's jobless rate was 7.6 percent.

The shutdown also pushed jobless rates across the Northeastern Minnesota to 8.6 percent, compared to 8 percent in June, says Drew Digby, regional labor market analyst for the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.

The larger Duluth area, which St. Louis, Carlton and Douglas counties, increased from 7.8 percent in June to 8.2 percent in July, according to state data released today.

Despite the jobless rate hikes, job postings are at their highest level since the recession began, Digby noted. In the last week, nearly 250 available jobs were posted at Minnesotaworks.net: 170 within 25 miles of downtown Duluth, 26 within 25 miles of Grand Rapids and 49 within 25 miles of Virgina, he said.

Meanwhile, state unemployment rate rose to 7.2 percent in July and nationwide to 9.1 percent. State and national rates are seasonally adjusted, local rates are not.

Other regional unemployment rates for July:

Cloquet: 10.1 percent, up from 10 percent in June.

Grand Rapids: 12.6 percent, up from 10.6 percent

Hibbing: 10.6 percent, up from 10.3 percent

Virginia: 12.6 percent, up from 11.5 percent.

St. Louis County: 8.5 percent, up from 7.9 percent

Minnesota shutdown pushes up Duluth-area jobless rate

As expected, the unemployment rate in Duluth edged up to 8 percent in July, largely due to the three-week state government shutdown. In June, Duluth's jobless rate was 7.6 percent. The shutdown also pushed jobless rates across the Northeastern Mi...