Minnesota unemployment falls to 4.2%

Minnesota has regained over half of the state's jobs lost in the pandemic, as hospitality slowly bounces back.

Minnesota's latest data shows unemployment rate for March was 4.2%.

That's just a small decrease from 4.4% seen in February.

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development says Minnesota has regained 54% of jobs lost during the pandemic.

The department is calling over 11,000 Minnesotans on unemployment insurance, helping them get back into the workforce.

"We go out there and share that you are not alone, that there is help, and that we have training programs. And even just that there is jobs that don't require training. And when you share with people that they actually pay really well and they are more like careers than jobs. We do see progress."

Nationally, unemployment insurance claims are now just above 575,000. That's a drop of nearly 200,000 the previous week. It's the lowest since March 14 2020.