ST. PAUL, Minn. – The workforce shortage continues in Minnesota but isn’t as severe as many places elsewhere in the nation, the state jobs agency reported. In July the labor force participation rate was at 68.5% in Minnesota — almost 6 points above the national average. The agency counted 3,900 new entries in the labor force. This, the agency said, was despite a 0.1% increase in unemployment. State jobs Commissioner Matt Varilek put a a positive spin on the data: “Ongoing growth in our state’s labor force is a positive sign as many Minnesota employers continue looking for the workers they need.” Varilek noted that hourly wages grew 5% in July over a year earlier – up 83 cents an hour in average.
