Overall unemployment rate moved down to 5.5% with the biggest shift in Construction, Mining, which lost 800 roles, based on the most recently available information published in March 2021.

Total employment in the Duluth, MN-WI market rose by 973 jobs in January and the unemployment rate decreased compared to the prior month by 20 bps to 5.5%. The national unemployment rate increased by 31 bps over the same time to 6.8%.

  • Duluth, MN-WI unemployment rate is 131 bps below the national rate which is a positive sign.
  • Unemployment in the market is 70 bps above the unemployment rate in the market last year at this time, which is a negative.
  • Average wages (per hour) grew in January versus prior month by 11.6% and are up compared to last year at this time in the market.
Month over Month Unemployment Change
Year over Year Unemployment Change
Duluth, MN-WI Unemployment January 2021

For key employment segments of the market, total jobs declined by -0.3%. Key sectors include:

  • Education & Healthcare: 31,800; +200
  • Government: 24,700; -100
  • Transportation & Utilities: 23,900; -300
  • Restaurants & Hotels: 10,000; +700
  • Construction, Mining: 8,300; -800
  • Manufacturing: 7,700; -100
  • Business Services: 7,300; -100
  • Other Jobs: 5,400; +100
  • Financial Services: 5,200; no change
  • IT & Development: 1,100; no change
Duluth, MN-WI Unemployment by Industry January 2021

Data is based on the most recent 12 months available, through January 2021 (Data published March 2021 and reports created on March 25, 2021).  Source: Government data agency and locally acquired statistics.

Note: All reported data is not seasonally adjusted.