February employment trends for 2026 saw Minnesota’s unemployment rate increase by one-tenth of a percentage point to 4.5% and the labor force participation drop by three-tenths of a percentage point to 67.9%, compared to the national rate of 62.0%.
“February was a very challenging month for Minnesota communities due to the ICE presence, and that also contributed to it being a tough month for the state’s labor market,” said DEED Commissioner Matt Varilek. “However, our state’s diverse economy remains resilient, with Minnesota job growth still outpacing the nation as a whole over the course of the last 12 months.”
February 2026 – Unemployment
Year over year/Month over month comparison
- +0.1% from January 2026
- +1.5% from February 2025
Minnesota’s unemployment rate increased by one-tenth of a percentage point to 4.5%, above the national rate of 4.4%, which also rose by one-tenth of a percentage point from January 2026. The state’s labor force participation decreased by three-tenths of a percentage point to 67.9%, compared to the national rate of 62.0%.
*Data from US Bureau of Labor Statistics
February 2026 – Jobs Gained
Jobs Gained & Industries Affected
- 4,100 Education & Health
- 200 Information
- 100 Mining & Logging
“The February job report is interesting in that even though Minnesota’s unemployment rate rose and jobs declined, we see a longer average work week for those who are employed,” said Angelina Nguyen, DEED Labor Market Information director. “And, as the unemployment rate increased, Unemployment Insurance claims did not increase alongside it – this is highly unusual and coincides with ICE being in Minnesota.”
Key News & Trends
- Minnesota’s In-Demand HR Roles for 2026 | Versique Learn More
- Minnesota’s In-Demand Finance and Accounting Roles for 2026 | Versique Learn More
- Minnesota’s In-Demand IT Roles for 2026 | Versique Learn More
