Historically Low Jobless Rates Continue in Rochester Area

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Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - The Rochester area experienced a slight uptick in its unemployment rate last month but it remains at a historically low level.

The latest jobs statistics from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development put the jobless rate for Olmsted County in May at 1.3-percent. That's one-tenth of a percentage point above the unemployment rate in April, which was the lowest ever recorded. Just two years ago, the rate peaked at 9.8-percent due to the COVID-19 economic shutdown.

Across the region, Houston County at the lowest unemployment rate in May at 1.2-percent. The highest unemployment rate in southeastern Minnesota last month was 1.6-percent in Freeborn County.