Governor Walz details lowest Minnesota unemployment since 1999

(ABC6 News) – A strong surge in jobs last month helped Minnesota reach a 2.7 percent unemployment rate for the first time in decades.

According to Minnesota governor Tim Walz, the state is at its lowest unemployment rate since 1999.

The state added 5,200 jobs in February, after 4,800 in January. Over the last year, Minnesota has gained more than 60,000 jobs.

“Minnesota is back to work,”Walz said. “I am proud to see that our state’s economy is strong and growing due to the hard work of Minnesota workers and smart economic policy. … Now, with our historically low unemployment rate and our sizeable budget surplus, we need to remain focused on investing in our workers, building our workforce, lowering costs for families, and growing our economy for the benefit of generations of Minnesotans to come.”

The state forecast also looks strong, with February’s Management and Budget release showing a budget surplus of an historic $9.25 billion predicted for the fiscal year 2022-2023.

The office of the governor has proposed to distribute Walz checks of up to $1,000 to residents, invest tens of millions into public infrastructure and pension plans, and Details on the Walz-Flanagan Budget to Move Minnesota Forward are available online.