Minnesota added jobs and increased the size of its labor force in November, and wages in the state continue to exceed the rate of inflation. “We added 2,500 jobs in the month, and that amounts to nine out of 12 months in which we had net job growth,” state Department of Employment and Economic Development Commissioner Matt Varilek said during a press briefing on Thursday, Dec. 19. Four supersectors gained jobs on a seasonally adjusted basis, led by strong gains in construction, which is up 2.1%. Agency officials say those gains are mostly thanks to a warmer-than-usual November that allowed construction to last longer into the year. Education and health services, government and other services are the other supersectors that saw gains. Professional and business services led the supersectors that lost jobs in November, down a half-percent. The state’s unemployment rate, however, increased last month by one-tenth of a percentage point to 3.5%, which was still lower than the national average of 4.2%. Officials with the agency say that reflects that there are more jobs than there are available workers in the state. Angelina Nguyễn, director of the Labor Market Information Office within DEED, said there are more job openings than there are available workers. “An unemployment rate has increased over the last year, but it is a good thing from an economics perspective,” she said. “The number of people working increased, and then the number of people unemployed, meaning they are now looking for work, increased by about 1,500, so we’re seeing more labor force participation.” Related Articles News | Working Strategies: When the holidays stall your job search News | Amazon and Starbucks workers are on strike. Trump might have something to do with it News | Minnesota gains 2,500 jobs in November, unemployment rises to 3.5% News | US applications for unemployment benefits come back down after last week’s big rise News | Business People: Symone Woolridge to anchor Fox 9 evening newscasts