Unemployment number turnaround

Down for winter.

While the pandemic caused an increase in unemployment rates nationwide ?

"* there is cause for optimism locally.

Kimt news 3's alex jirgens is looking into the latest unemployment numbers in our area ?

"* and hearing from a mason city employment agency about what they're seeing.

He joins us live ?

"* alex?xxx george, iowa is now ranked with the 3rd smallest number of weekly claims increase according to wallet hub.

Throughout the pandemic ?

"* q?

"*p?

"*s employment has been diligently working to connect those that are out of work with much needed industrial and skilled trade jobs.

Though hiring may be put on hold during the holiday break ?

"* branch manager lexi adams says there hasn't been much of a "there were definitely times were a bit slower, companies had to halt hiring for a bit.

It hasn't slowed down a ton and we're definitely still hiring for companies.

I know we're getting into the holidays, that's normal companies shut down.

But we've definitely continued hiring."

In minnesota ?

"* the state's unemployment rate fell to 4 point 4 percent in november.

Keep in mind this data was collected before in person service at restaurants and bars was paused ?

"* and fitness and entertainment centers were temporarily closed.

Thank you alex.

The national unemployment rate fell to 6 point 7 percent last month.

The number of unemployed minnesotans dropped by 36 hundred people.///