Minn. unemployment rate falls to 5.5 percent

Print Page Updated: 04:50:59 PM, Thu 17 January 2013

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — 's unemployment rate has stayed on its downward trend, falling to 5.5 percent in December.

The Department of Employment and Economic Development officials released statistics Thursday while describing job gains and losses in various sectors. The state made a net gain of 9,100 jobs that month. Job gains for November were also revised upward to reflect a net addition of 12,300 jobs.

Over the last 12 months, Minnesota has gained 50,700 jobs.

Minnesota's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate has remained well below the national average. Federal statistics released a couple of weeks ago showed the national jobless rate for December was 7.8 percent.

For November, the state revised its seasonally adjusted jobless rate to 5.6 percent.

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