Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
Coverage of Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development in the Nexus archive.
- Minnesota Paid Leave has paid out nearly double what workers, employers have paid in
Minnesota’s Paid Leave program has paid out $598 million in its first six months, exceeding the $344 million collected through a 0.88% wage tax split between workers and employers. A $688 million one-time startup fund covers remaining payments, but a funding gap persists, with delays in claim approvals reported by applicants like military veteran Robert Younger.
- Minnesota’s Paid Leave program: 75,000 approved but some face delays
Minnesota's Paid Leave program has approved 75,000 applications and distributed $600 million in benefits, but some applicants report delays and financial strain. DEED officials acknowledge complex cases may take longer but emphasize most applications are processed within two to three weeks.
- D.C. Memo: Fraud czar Vance targets unemployment benefits
Vice President JD Vance, as the nation’s fraud czar, announced efforts to target unemployment benefit programs in Minnesota and other states. U.S. Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling threatened to withhold federal funds from states failing to address mismanagement and fraud in unemployment insurance programs. Minnesota’s Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) defended its program as compliant and a top performer in integrity.
- Minnesota’s latest job numbers show more openings but lower pay, fewer people staying in the workforce
Minnesota's May labor report shows increased job openings but lower average hourly pay and a shrinking workforce. Unemployment decreased, yet employment numbers fell for six consecutive months, with more people exiting the labor force. Blue-collar jobs in leisure and hospitality are growing, while white-collar finance roles decline, contributing to a 0.5% drop in Minnesota's average hourly wage compared to the prior year.