Analysis: More than 4,000 leisure, hospitality jobs lost during first three months of 2026

A Twin Cities research and progressive policy group released new numbers estimating the cost of the federal government’s “Operation Metro Surge” earlier this year. An analysis by North Star Policy Action showed the state's leisure and hospitality sector lost more than 4,000 jobs and a loss of more than $70 million in wages during the first three months of the year. For more about how the analysis reached those numbers, MPR News host Nina Moini talked with the organization’s research director Aaron Rosenthal. Trung Pham of Pham’s Deli at the Midtown Global Market in South Minneapolis shared his experience as a business owner with Minnesota Now.