economy

Employment in the Rochester area last month was the highest it has been since the pandemic hit last March.

The latest jobless rate reported for the Rochester area was the highest since last September.

Minnesota has gained back most of the jobs lost in December will during the governor's "dial back."

The latest report on Minnesota tax collections suggests the state's economy outperformed expectations during the first month of the year.

The local jobless rate remains well be the peak from last May but it is still over a point higher than the unemployment rate reported a year ago.

State officials say people leaving the workforce is holding down the unemployment rate.

An improving national economic outlook is being credited.

A respected economic report shows optimism about Minnesota's economy has dropped for two straight months but remains strong.

Minnesota's job total is still down over 190,000 from a year ago.

It may be two years or longer before Minnesota recovers the thousands of jobs lost due to the pandemic.