Rochester Area Worker Shortage Worsened in October

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - Unemployment in the Rochester area and throughout southeastern Minnesota remained near historic lows last month.

The latest jobs statistics released by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development show the jobless rate for Olmsted County last month was down another tenth of a point. The 1.8-percent rate is the lowest since October 1999 and is less than a half-point above the record low set in the fall of 1998 when it dropped to 1.4-percent.

Olmsted County's unemployment rate was the lowest in the region in October but Houston County was also below two-percent for a second straight month at 1.9-percent. Most of the counties in the region reported steady or slightly lower jobless rates. Freeborn County was the anomaly as its rate rose two-tenths of a point to 2.6-percent.