Minnesota's teen unemployment rate has crept to its highest level in 12 years — a return to normal after a post-pandemic surge in hiring young workers — according to an Axios analysis of the latest U.S. Census data.

The big picture: The state's teens are enduring one of the toughest summer job markets in years, facing more competition for a dwindling number of open positions — especially in industries that typically hire teens for the summer.

• One staffing firm projected this could be the nation's slowest summer for teen hiring since 1948, the Wall Street Journal reported.

State of play: The 12-month rolling average of Minnesota's teen unemployment rate rose to 13.7% in May, the most recent month for which data is available.

• That's the highest the figure has climbed since 2014, and well beyond its COVID-recession-era spike to 13.1% in January 2021.

What they're saying: "The labor market is weakening across the board. ... Teen labor force indicators are reflecting this overall weakening," analysts with the state's Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) wrote in a recent blog post.

Driving the trend: Employers face increasing headwinds from inflation and rising fuel costs, according to the global outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas.

• Many businesses are automating entry-level tasks such as taking orders, conducting inventory checks, and providing basic customer service, according to the report.

Case in point: The entertainment and leisure sector — which includes resorts, hotels, and theme parks that are among teens' biggest employers — was expected to fill 70% fewer jobs than last year, the firm projected.

• In Minnesota, this sector may also be recovering after shedding jobs during Operation Metro Surge, DEED's Labor Market Information office research director Angelina Nguyen told Axios.

Plus: More adults are staying in the workforce longer, often competing with teens for the same part-time or seasonal roles.

• Minnesota's overall unemployment rate (currently 4.4%) recently surpassed the national rate (4.3%) for the first time since 2007.

Yes, but: The higher teen unemployment rate may reflect Minnesota's youth job market "getting back to a more normal place," as DEED's Oriane Casale told MPR News.

• After COVID's onset, teens took "a lot of the customer-facing jobs that adults were unwilling to take," Casale said — and the share of Minnesota teens working or looking for jobs rose to a 20-year high: nearly 67% in the summer of 2024, per Axios' analysis.
• But fewer teens are in the labor market now, and Minnesota's teen unemployment rate is now closer to its 20-year average (~12%).

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Sidle up to your AC unit … or your bag of frozen peas.

The big picture: An extreme heat warning is in effect today for the Twin Cities, kicking off a week of hot temperatures through Independence Day.

Threat level: Today's heat is expected to be the most punishing, with a combo of high temps and oppressive humidity pushing the "feels-like" heat index as high as 107.

• Highs in or near the 90s are expected through the Fourth.

🌩️ Plus: Thunderstorm chances start tonight and linger through the week.

What they're saying: "Remember to drink plenty of water, wear lightweight clothing, apply sunscreen, and take frequent breaks in the shade," MPR's Updraft blog reminds us.

• The Salvation Army has opened cooling centers.
• Keep your dogs and cats safe, too. Hot pavement burns paws!

💬 Kendall Qualls, the GOP-endorsed candidate for governor, said "it's not an issue" for him that his running mate, Brian Nicholson, was at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. (KSTP)

• A Star Tribune investigation showed Nicholson standing inside a law enforcement barricade set up on the Capitol lawn. Nicholson said he left when the rally turned violent.

👋 Opus and Capital Partners have withdrawn their application to redevelop Eagan's former Blue Cross and Blue Shield headquarters. (Sun This Week)

🏪 Colonial Market has closed its East Lake Street location. Its owner, grocer Daniel Hernandez, has been outspoken about Operation Metro Surge's drag on his and other immigrant-serving businesses. (Sahan Journal)

🏀 Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame on Saturday — and yesterday set the WNBA record for career coaching wins with Minnesota's win over Dallas. (Associated Press)

🧶 Broadway star Lin-Manuel Miranda, creator of "Hamilton," visited Minnesota last week. His son wanted to see Darwin's Big Ball of Twine. (KARE11)

More than 24% of Minnesota workers had at least partially remote jobs in 2025, the 12th-highest rate in the U.S.

That's according to a new Minneapolis Federal Reserve Bank report, which found that despite many return-to-office mandates, "remote work has nonetheless remained sticky" across the U.S.

In Minnesota, 10.7% of workers are fully remote and another 13.5% are hybrid.

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Kyle here. Summer heat is here — and so are the iced coffee creations. Here's what I've been drinking:

🍌 Quixotic Coffee Co., "Banana Cloud." $7.75

• Can be made with matcha, but I liked how the white chocolate and banana pudding flavors took the edge off of cold brew.

🌱 Karol Coffee Co., "Garden Cookie Latté." $7

• Sea salt, rosemary and mocha syrup. Another banger from the Como Park spot that consistently whips up interesting flavor combos.

🍰 Annabelle House, "Razzle Dazzle." $5.50+

• At this Osseo spot, cheesecake cold foam balances the acidic notes in raspberry cold press. (Bonus: This one also comes on a flight with an excellent hot honey-based drink.)

🥤 Jones Coffee, "Dirty Cold Brew Soda." $7

• I'll overlook that it should be "pop" to celebrate the local chain leaning into the trend with its blend of Coke, cold brew and house-made strawberry cold foam.