November Unemployment Rates

While Minnesota’s unemployment rate in December dropped 0.2 percent from November to 2.7 percent, seven counties in our area all saw increases in their unemployment rates in data released this week by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. Stevens County reported a 2.9 percent unemployment rate for December, which is up 0.8 percent from November. Big Stone is at 3.4 percent, up 0.9 percent. Douglas came in at 2.6 percent unemployment, up only 0.1 percent. Grant is at 4.1 percent, up 1.1 percent. Pope sits at 3.2 percent, up 0.2 percent. Swift County topped the area with 5.1 percent unemployment, also showing the largest increase from November by 2.4 percent. Traverse was at 2.7 percent, up 0.1. The United States unemployment rate is at 3.8 percent, which reflected a 0.2 percent decrease from November.