
Unemployment Higher Across SE Minnesota in January
Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - Seasonal factors and an annual review and revision process contributed to an increase in the Rochester area's unemployment rate during the first month of this year.
The latest jobs report from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development put the jobless rate for Olmsted County in January at 2.7%. That is up 8-tenths of a percentage point from December. A year ago in January, the local unemployment rate was 2.3%.
ALSO SEE: Revised Jobs Data Strips Rochester of Much of Last Year’s Growth

The updated data shows every county in southeastern Minnesota saw a sizable increase in the reported unemployment rate in January. Olmsted County, despite the increase, still had the lowest jobless rate in the region, while Fillmore County reported the highest rated 4.1%. Fillmore and Dodge Counties experience the largest increases to start the new year. Both counties saw their unemployment rates jump 1.5 percentage points.
Construction Projects Planned for Southeast Minnesota in 2025
Gallery Credit: T.J. Leverentz