Minnesota’s workforce grew by 6,300 jobs last month, but the state’s unemployment rate ticked up from 3.3% in August to 3.4% in September, according to data released Thursday by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.

Leading the way in September employment growth was the Government sector, which added 3,600 jobs, followed by Professional & Business Services (up 2,300), Education & Health Services (up 1,600) and Trade, Transportation and Utilities (up 1,200).

DEED also revealed that four “supersectors” lost jobs, including Financial Activities (down 700), Information (down 600), Other Services (down 600) and Manufacturing (down 500). Employment was unchanged in Mining & Logging, Construction and Leisure & Hospitality.

Minnesota’s labor force participation rate “held steady for the third month in a row at 67.7%” and is “one of the highest in the country,” according to DEED.

“This was another strong month for Minnesota’s jobs market,” DEED Commissioner Matt Varilek said in a statement. “With ongoing job growth, low unemployment, wages outpacing inflation and high labor force participation, plus surging exports and record business expansions, the Minnesota economy is robust entering the final quarter of the year — even as we partner with the business community, higher education, nonprofits and others to address challenges including the ongoing workforce shortage.”

Also in September, wages grew faster than inflation, DEED said, adding that the average hourly private sector wage in Minnesota is $38. Over the past year, average hourly earnings are up 4.9% in Minnesota, more than twice the rate of inflation (2.4%), the department said.

“It’s positive to see ongoing strong wage growth in Minnesota that continues to outpace inflation,” said Angelina Nguyen, DEED’s Labor Market Information director. “This is critical for our efforts to attract workers to Minnesota and address the ongoing workforce shortage from a variety of angles.”

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