Unemployment Numbers Up in the Lakes area

The tough economy continues to take a toll on jobs in the area. The Minnesota Department of Economic Security reports a big increase in joblessness in January compared to the year before.

In Crow Wing County the unemployment rate jumped from 7.8 percent in January of 2008 to 12.3 percent this past January. A total of 1615 more had applied for unemployment compensation from the year before.

All counties in the area are reporting double digit unemployment. Cass County saw an increase from 14.7 percent in January compared to 10.4 percent last year. Aitkin was up to 13.6 percent compared to 9.3. Morrison County jumped to 14.7 percent from 8.7. The highest in the area was Mille Lacs County at 15.4 percent from 10.2.

State-wide, the unemployment rate was as 7.6 percent during the first month of the year. Minnesota lost 74,900 jobs during the period, the largest loss since World War II.

The biggest loss came in construction jobs. The biggest gains came in health care and education.