The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell below 200,000, more evidence that the job market remains strong in the aftermath of last year’s coronavirus recession. Jobless claims dropped by 8,000 to 198,000. The Labor Department reports the four-week average, which smooths out week-to-week volatility, fell to just above 199,000, lowest level since October 1969.
Minnesota lost 416,300 jobs from February through April 2020 and has since gained 304,400 jobs, or 73% of the jobs lost on a seasonally adjusted basis. The private sector has regained 77% of the jobs lost. Gains were in Leisure & Hospitality, up 2,900 jobs, Professional & Business Services up 2,100 jobs, Educational & Health Service up 1,600, Construction and Manufacturing each up 1,500 jobs,
U.S. home prices surged again in October as the housing market continues to boom in the wake of last year’s coronavirus recession. The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller 20-city home price index climbed 18.4% in October from a year earlier. The hottest markets were Phoenix (up 32.3%), Tampa (28.1%) and Miami (25.7%). Minneapolis and Chicago posted the smallest increases, 11.5% each.
The Grand Forks Planning and Zoning Commission is expected to approve a Conditional Use Permit this week for a new residential addiction recovery assistance facility. ShareHouse will be located at 1122 North 43rd Street. ShareHouse will provide 16 single occupancy rooms. The non-profit has two inpatient facilities and three outpatient clinics in Fargo.
The NDSU Presidential Search Committee will hit the road for Minneapolis this week to interview a short list of candidates hoping to lead the Fargo campus. Meetings are set for Wednesday…Thursday…and Friday. Finalists will then be invited for in-person interviews at NDSU between January 24th and February 4th.
Minnesota’s minimum-wage rates will be adjusted for inflation beginning Jan. 1, 2022, to $10.33 an hour for large employers and $8.42 an hour for other state minimum wages. Large employers must pay at least $10.33 an hour when the employer’s annual gross revenues are $500,000 or more. Small employers must pay at least $8.42 an hour when the employer’s annual gross revenues are less than $500,000.
Minnesota employers will no longer be allowed to reduce an employee’s compensation for break times used to express milk at work; a welcome change for the approximately 44,000 working Minnesota parents who have given birth in the previous year. Under the new law, an estimated 27,000 more workers of childbearing age in Minnesota will be able to request and receive a pregnancy accommodation at work.
Some cities and states are targeting remote workers as a way to boost the local tax base and combat decades of brain drain. To get out-of-staters to relocate and live and work from a new city, these locales are shelling out $10,000 or more — or other benefits.
La Catina officially opened its doors this past week in north Grand Forks. The restaurant/bar is located off Gateway and North Washington in a portion of the building that was previously occupied by the El Roco. The eatery features Tex-Mex food. La Catina also has locations in Grafton and Mayville.
Nevada casinos set a record in November, reporting a ninth straight month of $1 billion or more in house winnings. A Nevada Gaming Control Board report on Wednesday showed the nation’s tourist-dependent gambling mecca has returned to pre-pandemic levels. The nine-month streak beat the previous record of eight consecutive months set from October 2006 to May 2007.
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