Minnsights Blog

There are a number of ways to analyze the economic and multidimensional contributions of immigrants to the development of Minnesota’s economy. In this analysis, immigrants’ impacts are measured by their role in the economy as consumers, sources of human capital, taxpayers, entrepreneurs and by facilitating connections to global markets.

Immigrants are more geographically concentrated than native-born citizens, no matter what geographical unit is used. To facilitate further analysis of immigrants in Minnesota, this report divides the state into six regions: Central, Twin Cities metro, Northeast, Northwest, Southeast and Southwest.

Minnesota has a diverse economy with specialization in numerous industries. Using location quotients, which identify specialization in an area, a few types of industries stand out as integral to the Minnesota economy.

Foreign-born workers are unemployed at lower rates the longer they are in the country and more foreign-born workers end up working for themselves over time

Immigrants in Minnesota are an undeniable benefit to the state’s economy. In the long term, immigrants hold down critical jobs, pay taxes, stimulate the economy through spending, start businesses and provide a link to the world economy.