A little good news for Minnesota in jobless claims data

Looking for upside in the economy is a noble quest these days. So it's worth noting that Minnesota looked pretty good relative to other states in today's new jobless claims data.

In the most recent weekly report, Minnesota was among the states with the largest drop in initial employment claims from the prior week. Not much to hang your hat on and there was no explanation given for the drop. But something.

Overall, the employment picture remains in turmoil. Check that attached graphic from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development and you see dramatically how job vacancies have fallen here as the number of unemployed jump.

Minnesota's next unemployment update comes Thursday and it's a pretty safe bet it will run higher than the 8.1 percent rate in February.

But on one small measure today, there was a little good news.

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