The Twin Cities metro lost 2,000 jobs in January, with the state's unemployment rate reaching its highest level since 2021 at 4.4%, according to the latest Minnesota jobs report. The state's Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) commissioner, Matt Varilek, attributed this loss to the federal immigration crackdown, which he believes is partly due to tariffs, tariffs, and national economic headwinds. The biggest gains were in educational and health services (5,000 job losses) and construction (3,700). Meanwhile, statewide job growth was flat in January.