The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis' annual forecast calls for a gradual recovery in the Upper Midwest in 2010, but the labor markets in the district's six states won't recover at the same time.

The following chart shows the state, the predicted percent change in nonfarm employment in 2010 and actual number of jobs predicted to be added or lost. For comparison, nonfarm employment in the nation as a whole is forecast to drop 0.7 percent in 2010.

State Pct. Change Actual

Minnesota -0.4 -11,400

Montana +3.3 +14,400

North Dakota +2.3 +8,400

South Dakota +0.9 +3,600

Wisconsin +0.1 +3,500

U.P. of Mich. -1.0 -1,200

Note: Employment predictions are for the entire state of Wisconsin, although the Federal Reserve district includes only the northwest portion.

___

Source: The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis.