This edition of Minnesota Economic Trends includes articles that explore the contributions of foreign born workers and estimates of undocumented immigrants in Minnesota’s workforce, look at the surge in self-employed workers over time, describe our work surveying high school students and helping them think about post-graduation plans, and introduces new data tools to help students choose a major based on a career of interest and to be realistic about the cost of college compared to earnings post-graduation.
The College Major to Career Connector tool allows students, counselors and educational planners to search for majors starting from a career of interest and, vice-versa, to explore the full range of careers a specific major can prepare for. Interactive filters allow users to slice the data by 563 majors and connect them to 505 occupations.
When considering which college to attend and what to major in, it’s important to determine if expected earnings post-graduation are enough to cover both the cost of living and the cost of a standard student loan. The new Graduate Earnings and Cost Calculator tool compares the likely cost of college to the potential earnings in a major, helping users determine the affordability of various school types and program options. The tool calculates the periodic payments owed on a loan, allowing users to input their own loan amount. Interactive filters allow to slice the data by six Minnesota regions, 567 majors, six types of schools, and two age groups.
Career exploration events like the Southwest Minnesota Career Expo and Central Minnesota's EPIC Student Day engage thousands of high schoolers each year, offering hands-on experiences and labor market insights that help students better understand their career options and educational paths. While many students remain uncertain or focused on a narrow range of interests—especially in Health Sciences—recent data shows a shift toward more realistic post-graduation plans, including increased interest in entering the workforce directly, and a growing openness to diverse work environments and career pathways.
Self-employment in Minnesota has surged over the past decade, with nearly 445,000 nonemployer businesses generating over $25 billion in 2022, reflecting a growing shift toward independent work across industries like professional services, transportation, and real estate. While some sectors such as construction and personal services saw declines, others—especially transportation and tech-related consulting—grew rapidly, highlighting the resilience and adaptability of solo entrepreneurs in the state's evolving economy.
Minnesota's foreign-born population has grown rapidly over the last decade, leading to increasing contributions to the state's workforce. Foreign-born workers account for almost 11% of Minnesota's labor force and play even larger roles in specific sectors and occupations.
Despite challenges in data accuracy and varying estimates of total numbers, immigrants who are undocumented make up a small but vital part of Minnesota's population and workforce, contributing significantly to key industries and helping to expand a tight labor market.
