Analyst: State added high-skill jobs in December

Posted at 12:13 PM on January 19, 2012 by Paul Tosto
Filed under: Jobs and unemployment

Here's the latest look at today's Minnesota jobs and employment data from MPR News reporter Brandt Williams:

Minnesota employers added a net total of nearly 8,000 jobs in December and the state's jobless rate fell to five-point-seven percent. However, state labor market analyst Steve Hine says last month's gain wasn't enough to offset three previous months of job losses.

He says the most jobs were added last month in the professional and business services sector.

"Those are a lot of high-skilled, high-tech, high-paying jobs," Hine said. "Computer systems design services, for example. Businesses that contract with others to provide these computer systems support. That's up seven-percent from last year."

Hine says there are a number of signs the economic recovery is gaining momentum, but overall he'd like to see more businesses start hiring.