A new report released by the Minnesota Chamber Foundation highlights the contributions of immigrants to the state's economy.

According to the report, nearly 60 percent of the state’s total labor force and employment growth came from foreign-born workers from 2019 to 2023.

Officials with the foundation say the report is based on 16 years of research and highlights how immigrants fill essential roles in key industries like agriculture, health care and manufacturing. 

“Minnesota’s economy and workforce depend on a strong pipeline of talent, and immigration has become the leading driver of our state’s population growth,” said Sean O’Neil, director of economic development and research at the Minnesota Chamber Foundation. “With foreign-born workers accounting for the majority of recent employment gains, it’s clear that New Americans are playing a crucial role in filling workforce gaps and keeping our economy competitive.”

Authors of the report found that smaller counties in Greater Minnesota may disproportionately benefit from the added population base that immigration provides. According to the findings, 51 of Minnesota’s 87 counties had more deaths than births from 2020-2023, making them dependent on both domestic and international migration. 

It also shows Minnesota’s total labor force and employment gains this decade have been largely driven by immigration. Findings show the state added more than 100,000 foreign-born workers to the labor force from 2010-2023. And while Minnesota had the 4th highest foreign-born labor force participation among states in 2023, the report finds immigrant entrepreneurship rates are still among the lowest in the country.

Despite this, over the last several years, there have been local efforts to foster immigrant business ownership. In 2023, the Ignite Business Women Investment Group and the African Career, Education and Resources or ACER, purchased the Shingle Creek Center, a strip mall in Brooklyn Center. The $5.2 million purchase was inspired by the growth of businesses run by African immigrants in the western Twin Cities suburbs. 

Immigrant resource fairs also play a key role offering guidance for those looking to start a business. 

Among the findings in the report, Minnesota has the 23rd highest percentage of foreign-born residents in the U.S., but the 44th highest share of immigrant business owners.

Collected from Minnesota Public Radio News. View original source here.