Unemployment among Minnesota's African-Americans is at about 20 percent, which nearly triples the seven percent rate among white residents.

Unemployment benefits in Minnesota will end after 46 weeks, instead of the current 60. The Department of Employment and Economic Development says the unemployment rate has been below six percent for three months, which triggers the reduction.

A new study shows Minneapolis-St. Paul leading the nation in a category no one is celebrating: of 19 major metropolitan areas, the Twin Cities metro area has the widest gap in unemployment rate between blacks and whites. The jobless rate of black unemployed workers is 3 times higher than it is for whites.

Minnesota's jobless rate remains 5.6 percent for the third straight month, according to the figures released Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. Employers added 7,200 jobs last month to end a three-month skid of job losses in the state. Minnesota is still well below the national unemployment rate of 8.2 percent.