Operation Metro Surge depleted $71 million in wages from Minnesota’s hospitality and leisure industry, placing pressure on workers in one of the state’s lowest-paid sectors, according to a new analysis.
The research by North Star Policy Action analyzed data for the first three months of 2026 and concluded that the sector lost 4,600 jobs and 3.8 million working hours.
“Operation Metro Surge drained tens of millions of dollars from a key sector of local economies, slashed hours for workers who kept their jobs, and devastated an entire industry,” said Jake Schwitzer, the executive director of North Star Policy Action…