Skip to content

Checked

Minnesota Economy

Unemployment was 4.5% in Sep 2026, the 39th lowest of 51 states. Personal income averages $75,603 per person.

Unemployment rate
4.5%
+0.4 pts in a year
Labor force
3,125,305
-1.7% in a year
Income per person
$75,603
BEA, 2024
Average annual pay
$76,940
QCEW, 2025

Unemployment rate in Minnesota

Monthly, seasonally adjusted, compared with the U.S.

MinnesotaUnited States
Show as a table
PeriodMinnesota
Sep 20264.5%
Dec 20254.2%
Dec 20243.3%
Dec 20232.8%
Dec 20222.7%
Dec 20212.8%
Dec 20204.8%
Dec 20193.4%
Dec 20183.2%
Dec 20173.2%
Dec 20163.9%
Dec 20153.7%
Dec 20143.9%
Dec 20134.7%
Dec 20125.4%
Beta

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics ยท Last updated 09/01/2026

Share:

Counties in Minnesota

Unemployment (Sep 2026, not seasonally adjusted), income per person (BEA) and average pay (QCEW). Largest labor force first.

Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.

#CountyUnemployment1 yearLabor forceIncome per personAverage pay
1Hennepin County4.7%+0.9 pts721,820$100,352$92,294
2Ramsey County4.8%+0.9 pts290,396$71,769$81,311
3Dakota County4.4%+0.9 pts252,001$77,886$74,673
4Anoka County4.6%+1.0 pts205,911$64,906$67,842
5Washington County4.3%+1.0 pts152,258$86,217$63,636
6St. Louis County4.8%+0.7 pts97,699$61,867$62,615
7Olmsted County3.7%+0.8 pts91,173$74,873$83,402
8Scott County4.1%+0.9 pts90,683$84,901$65,996
9Stearns County4.2%+1.0 pts87,353$64,935$65,352
10Wright County4.0%+0.9 pts86,163$66,574$57,602
11Carver County3.9%+0.6 pts63,843$96,114$76,442
12Sherburne County4.2%+1.0 pts57,029$61,662$59,716
13Blue Earth County4.0%+1.1 pts40,641$56,864$59,405
14Rice County4.3%+1.1 pts36,273$57,160$61,410
15Clay County3.9%+1.1 pts35,951$55,518$56,501
16Crow Wing County4.5%+0.9 pts34,170$60,191$55,346
17Chisago County4.4%+1.0 pts31,628$64,153$59,776
18Otter Tail County4.2%+0.9 pts30,280$62,053$54,321
19Winona County3.9%+1.0 pts28,386$60,968$54,330
20Goodhue County4.3%+1.1 pts26,346$70,391$63,187
21Isanti County4.7%+1.1 pts23,136$56,741$52,108
22Kandiyohi County4.3%+1.2 pts22,983$66,147$54,758
23Beltrami County4.8%+0.9 pts22,618$56,194$57,841
24Benton County4.4%+0.9 pts22,399$58,371$58,805
25Douglas County3.7%+0.8 pts21,375$69,260$59,860
All 87 counties, A to Z

Jobs and pay by industry in Minnesota

Private employers, annual average 2025 (Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages)

Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.

IndustryJobs1-year changeAverage pay
Health care and social assistance533,801+4.5%$68,284
Manufacturing315,307-1.5%$86,634
Retail trade279,777-1.8%$40,680
Accommodation and food services222,684-0.4%$27,619
Professional and technical services165,130-0.9%$126,622
Construction141,493+2.5%$92,700
Finance and insurance135,068-1.4%$140,352
Wholesale trade133,273-0.6%$112,379
Administrative and support services120,452-1.4%$58,023
Transportation and warehousing98,979-0.2%$69,844
Other services90,771-1.0%$49,603
Management of companies84,515-2.5%$152,362
Educational services55,515+1.1%$52,145
Arts, entertainment and recreation51,160+3.2%$48,558
Information42,068-3.2%$123,592
Real estate and rental35,597-0.3%$73,113
Agriculture, forestry and fishing23,784+1.6%$53,123
Utilities13,371+1.3%$141,068
Mining, oil and gas5,588-3.7%$113,806

Government employs 395,927 people (13.4% of all jobs): 32,700 federal, 87,260 state and 275,967 local.

Output and businesses in Minnesota

Bureau of Economic Analysis and Census Bureau

GDP
$508B
2024, current dollars
Real GDP growth
+2.4%
Adjusted for inflation
Employer businesses
154,455
2,803,410 employees
  • Health care and social assistance19,98512.9%
  • Retail trade17,72711.5%
  • Construction17,56811.4%
  • Professional and technical services16,21810.5%
  • Other services15,96910.3%
  • Accommodation and food services12,3748.0%
  • Finance and insurance9,6876.3%
  • Administrative and support services7,9395.1%
  • Real estate and rental7,7865.0%
  • Wholesale trade7,0254.5%

Source: BEA Regional Economic Accounts; Census County Business Patterns 2023

Share:

Frequently asked questions

What is the unemployment rate in Minnesota?
Minnesota's unemployment rate was 4.5% in Sep 2026, seasonally adjusted, compared with 4.2% for the U.S.
Which county in Minnesota has the highest unemployment?
Cottonwood County has the highest rate at 7.2%, and Stevens County has the lowest at 3.0% (not seasonally adjusted).
What is the largest industry in Minnesota?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private employer with 533,801 jobs, followed by manufacturing (315,307) and retail trade (279,777).
What is the average salary in Minnesota?
The average annual pay for jobs covered by unemployment insurance in Minnesota was $76,940 in 2025, or $1,480 a week.
How big is Minnesota's economy?
Minnesota's GDP was $508B in 2024, about $87,636 per resident.