Minnesota state shutdown boosts Duluth area's jobless numbers

By news@duluthnewstribune.com

August 23, 2011 at 11:00 PM

As expected, the unemployment rate in Duluth edged upward in July, largely because of the three-week state government shutdown.

July's unemployment rate was 8 percent, up from 7.6 percent in June, according to state data released Tuesday.

The good news is that new job postings are at their highest level since the recession began, said Drew Digby, regional labor market analyst for the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.

In the last week, he said, nearly 250 jobs were posted at Minnesotaworks.net: 170 in the Duluth area, 26 in Grand Rapids and 49 in the Virginia area, he said.

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

Duluth metropolitan area (St. Louis, Carlton and Douglas counties): 8.2 percent, up from 7.8 percent

Northeastern Minnesota: 8.6 percent, up from 8 percent