Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - Job growth in the Rochester area remained strong last month.

The latest data from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development show that the number of jobs in the Rochester Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes portions of surrounding counties, has grown by nearly 6,400 positions over the past 12 months. That equates to a job growth rate of 5.1%.

It’s also an improvement from March, when the state agency reported the local job growth rate was around 4.7%, with a gain of about 5,800 jobs compared to the same month in 2024.

The annualized job growth rate for the Rochester area continues to be significantly higher than those reported by other metropolitan statistical areas in Minnesota. The Twin Cities area added almost 16,000 jobs, but the job growth rate was just 0.8%.

The only other metropolitan area to report job gains over the past year was St. Cloud. State data indicate it added about 1,000 jobs, for a job growth rate of just under 1%.

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Both Duluth and Mankato experienced modest job losses over the past year. The report estimates the Mankato-area economy shed a little over 500 jobs, while the Duluth area saw a decline of about 250 jobs.

Statewide, the job growth rate over the past 12 months is around 1.2%, with a net gain of nearly 35,500 jobs. For the month of April, Minnesota experienced a net loss of about 1,300 positions.

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Minnesota’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate now stands at 3.2%, which is up one-tenth of a percentage point compared to the rate reported for March. The nationwide jobless rate remained at 4.2% in April.