Minnesota's job market posted its second straight negative month, shedding 11,400 jobs in April, the state said Thursday.

The biggest job losses were in trade, transportation and utilities, which shed 5,700 jobs, according to figures released by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. Meanwhile, the Minnesota unemployment rate fell to a seasonally adjusted 5.3 percent in April, its lowest point since May 2008 and well below the U.S. rate of 7.5 percent in April. The March figures were revised upward from 5,200 jobs lost to 3,300 jobs lost. Minnesota has now fallen behind the nation in job growth over the past 12 months, at 1 percent, compared with a U.S. rate of 1.6 percent during that period. "While we've seen mixed results in the labor market in recent months, the overall outlook for jobs in Minnesota remains positive," said Katie Clark Sieben, commissioner of the department. "Eight of the state's 11 major industrial sectors have gained jobs in the past year, and the unemployment rate is at a five-year low." Government, hotels and restaurants, manufacturing, professional and business services, financial activities and construction all lost jobs on the month as well. In the state Metropolitan Statistical Areas, job gains occurred in the past 12 months in the Minneapolis-St. Paul MSA (up 1.5 percent), Rochester MSA (up 0.9 percent), Duluth-Superior MSA (up 0.8 percent), Mankato MSA (up 0.7 percent) and St. Cloud MSA (up 0.2 percent).