Minnsights Blog

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.

The Minnesota Chamber Foundation released a report on Tuesday, March 23 titled, “The Economic Contributions of Immigrants in Minnesota.” This report highlights their contributions as consumers, human capital, taxpayers and a link to the world economy, through entrepreneurship, by region and as talent in key industries. 

Among the key characteristics of Minnesota’s economy are its industrial diversity and large number of homegrown enterprises, i.e. businesses that start, succeed and grow in the state. Fueling these characteristics are high-quality native-born and immigrant entrepreneurs and workers. The rate of entrepreneurship—whether native-born or immigrant—is modest relative to other states, but their businesses survive at a rate that’s among the highest. Workforce participation rates by native-born and immigrant Minnesotans alike are also high-ranking.