How do unemployment rates for Somali Minnesotans compare to other immigrant and Black communities in Minnesota?
Executive summary
Data in the available reporting show Somali Minnesotans have faced substantially higher unemployment and poverty than the statewide average: multiple local accounts cite Somali unemployment rates around 11% and as much as “nearly triple” the statewide rate, while sources also report very high poverty concentrations in the Somali community (about half or more in poverty in some accounts) [1] [2] [3]. Statewide seasonally adjusted unemployment has been as low as 1.8% (June 2022) and generally ranges in the low single digits in recent years, showing a large gap versus the Somali figures cited in local reporting [4] [5].
1. Somali unemployment: repeatedly reported as high
Local and state reporting repeatedly flags elevated unemployment among Minnesota’s Somali-born population: Marketplace and other coverage cite a Somali unemployment rate “roughly 11 percent” and note that more than half of Minnesota’s Somali population lives in poverty [1]. Earlier reporting summarized by Minnesota Public Radio said the unemployment rate for Somali-born Minnesotans was “nearly triple” the statewide rate, signaling a long‑standing disparity [2]. A state demographer’s presentation likewise concluded Somalis have higher unemployment and poverty and lower labor‑force participation than most groups [3].
2. How that compares to Minnesota overall
Minnesota’s overall unemployment rate in recent years has been low by national standards: one overview records a seasonally adjusted rate of 1.8% in June 2022 and notes median household income and other statewide economic context [4]. DEED’s public economic highlights and other official pages show unemployment for the state generally in the low single digits, which is far below the Somali rates reported in local coverage [5] [4].
3. Comparisons with other Black and immigrant groups: limited direct data in these sources
Available sources do not provide a single table comparing Somali unemployment directly to every other immigrant or Black community subgroup in Minnesota. However, MinnPost’s analysis of American Community Survey data states that unemployment rates for many Minnesotans of color exceed white Minnesotans and that Ojibwe and African‑American Minnesotans in some reporting have unemployment rates higher than Somali and Hmong Minnesotans — indicating variation across groups and that Somalis are not uniformly the highest in every dataset [6]. The state demographer also emphasized age structure and labor‑force participation differences that complicate direct comparisons [3].
4. Important contextual factors that shape the numbers
Sources warn against reading a single unemployment number in isolation. Minnesota’s Somali and Hmong populations are much younger on average (median ages in the early 20s), which affects labor‑force participation and poverty measurements [4] [6]. Analysts note many Somali arrivals began with limited formal education and faced language and credential barriers, while, over time, immigrant groups typically show upward mobility and falling unemployment the longer they reside in the U.S. [7] [3].
5. Where the reporting diverges and why it matters
Different outlets emphasize different snapshots: Marketplace and MPR emphasize the striking disparities (11% Somali unemployment; “nearly triple” state rate) and high Somali poverty [1] [2], while MinnPost and a Chamber of Commerce piece stress heterogeneity across immigrant groups and the long‑term socioeconomic gains seen among many immigrants [6] [7]. This divergence reflects both differences in the underlying datasets and editorial choices about which years, age groups, or nativity groups to highlight.
6. Policy, programs and local responses cited in reporting
Coverage documents active responses: state and local workforce initiatives, job fairs, and bills aimed at Somali youth workforce development are part of the policy conversation, driven by the high unemployment and poverty figures reported for the Somali community [2] [8]. Economic‑development reporting also points to Somali employment concentrations in specific industries (home health care, food manufacturing) that shape both opportunity and vulnerability [7].
7. Limitations of the available reporting
The assembled sources do not provide a uniform, up‑to‑date statistical table directly comparing Somali Minnesotans, other immigrant groups, and Black Minnesotans across the same year, age adjustments, or nativity breakdowns; therefore precise current comparative rates by subgroup are not present in these citations (not found in current reporting). Reported Somali rates vary by outlet and year (for example, ~11% versus descriptions like “nearly triple” the state rate), and some sources date to earlier periods, so trends and present‑day levels require checking primary ACS or DEED microdata for an authoritative, comparable breakdown [1] [2] [6].
Bottom line: available reporting consistently shows Somali Minnesotans experience substantially higher unemployment and poverty than the statewide average, but comparisons with other Black and immigrant subgroups are more nuanced and depend on datasets, age structure, and definitions; deeper, directly comparable data from ACS or state DEED tables is needed for a definitive, year‑matched ranking [1] [2] [6] [5].