Rochester's unemployment rate drops to 6.8%

Thank you.

New for you on daybreak.

There's still no end in sight as coronavirus cases rise in minnesota.

However, that's not stopping people from getting back to work.

As kimt news 3's madelyne watkins explains... rochester is seeing a decrease in unemployment numbers... for now at least.

Madelyne?

Brooke.

The rochester area chamber of commerce conducted three surveys with local businesses since the beginning of the pandemic.

And i'm told the numbers are looking steady for the med city.

It seems like we're now in the recovery phase of the pandemic... but i'm learning it's going to be challenging for small businesses.

The second largest industry here is hospitality ?

"*?

"* meaning restaurants an retailers.

And those were also the businesses hit the hardest.

The rochester area chamber of commerce president, kathleen harrington, tells me one in three jobs in olmsted county comes from small business.

She says if another shutdown were to happen... it would be a compounded effect on "the sector that will be most hit and will probably be the first to shut down, will again be hospitality, retail and restaurants.

They still haven't recovered yet, so it would be a double hit, a double whammy.

That's why it's so important for people to stay safe, to support local businesses, but do so safely."

There are over two thousand jobs posted on indeed dot com in rochester.

Brooke, if you're wondering what sector we're talking about here?

"*it really varies.

I found postings for veterinarians and fed ex workers to factory workers and hospitality.

Thank you, madelyne.

Harrington says they want to see more opportunities become available for construction workers and she's hearing more projects will be happening soon so those workers can