ST. PAUL, MN (KDAL) - The Minnesota unemployment rate fell by 0.5 percent in November to a seasonally adjusted 5.9 percent, according to figures released by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). The unemployment rate was the lowest in Minnesota since October 2008 and well behind the U.S. rate of 8.6 percent in November.State employers eliminated 13,700 jobs in November, and October figures were revised to reflect an additional 1,200 jobs lost during that month. The state has lost 22,900 jobs over the past three months, even while the unemployment rate was falling from 7.2 percent to 5.9 percent during that period.Several factors could account for the conflicting results, including sampling errors in the separate surveys that are used to tabulate the unemployment rate and employer hiring, more people becoming self-employed or contract workers, changes in Bureau of Labor Statistics methodology, and a declining labor force participation rate."The mixed results make it difficult to draw clear conclusions about how well the labor market is doing," said DEED Commissioner Mark Phillips. "I'm cautiously optimistic, however, that the economy is moving in the right direction."Education and health services led all sectors in November, gaining 1,300 jobs. Logging and mining held steady.
