The Business Journal reports the metro ranks 8th in the nation when it comes to the number of jobs added in the last year. Between August of 2010 and August of 2011, the Twin Cities added more than 26,000 jobs. For the record, Houston topped that list, adding 65,00 news jobs.

The Economic Policy Institute says China’s currency manipulation and other policies have led to the growing trade deficit that has cost so many jobs.

However, when questioned about bringing tech jobs to the area -- Eric Schmidt says Google doesn't have any future plans in Minnesota. The company says its web-based tools have provided more than $1 billion in economic value to the state.

A $1 million federal grant is helping turn the historic library into a much-needed computer access and job training facility. Groundbreaking for the jobs center is set for next year.

Delta Airlines' primary headquarters and hub in Atlanta is flourishing. Not so at other hub cities. Since Delta absorbed Northwest Airlines, the Twin Cities area has lost 3,000 jobs associated with the carrier. In Memphis the number of flights has been nearly halved, pushing up air fares to the second highest in the nation. Behind Cincinnati. Which is also a Delta hub.

The number of jobs available in Minnesota counties outside the Twin Cities area is at an eight-year high. But some analysts are serving up a grain of salt with that seemingly cheery news. The Jobs Now Coalition notes that barely half the jobs are full-time and the median hourly wage is barely ten dollars -- not quite enough to live on.

A new report by BMO Capital Markets paints a picture of Minnesota's economy as slowly but surely recovering. The unemployment rate of less than six percent is helped by fresh hiring in the construction industry and an easing of job cuts among government employees. Housing is still considered a weak spot, but at least prices are recovering and there are signs that more building is on the horizon.