How do unemployment rates for Somali women in Minnesota compare to Somali men and state averages?

1. Gender gap in older census-era figures: Minneapolis snapshot

A widely cited figure from earlier Census reporting shows a stark gender gap in employment among Somali immigrants in Minneapolis: roughly 65% of Somali men employed versus 35% of Somali women ^[1]. That contrast illustrates a historically large difference in labor-market attachment between men and women in the community; the Wikipedia summary attributes this to work by Helskog and researcher Cindy Horst, who noted Somali men were often perceived as more economically active ^[1]. This data point, however, appears to describe Minneapolis and an earlier period rather than the statewide, contemporary unemployment rate ^[1].

2. Community-level unemployment and poverty: Somali rates vs. state

Multiple community-focused sources say Somali adults in Minnesota face unemployment and poverty substantially above state norms. Culture Care Connection summarizes Census data for 2013–2017 and reports Somali adults have “roughly 2–3 times higher rates of unemployment than the state overall” and that 83% live at or near the federal poverty threshold ^[2]. A 2016 state chartbook and Minnesota Chamber commentary also document that Somali Minnesotans historically arrived with low workforce participation and high poverty, though both note improvements over time ^{[4] [3]}. These sources establish a persistent gap between Somali community averages and Minnesota’s general labor-market metrics ^{[2] [3]}.

3. Limits of the available reporting on male–female comparisons today

None of the provided sources supply a clear, up‑to‑date, statewide breakdown of unemployment that directly compares Somali women to Somali men in Minnesota for recent years. The older 65%/35% Minneapolis employment split is explicit in the summary ^[1], but modern official publications cited here (Minnesota Department of Administration chartbooks, DEED alternative‑measures material) discuss overall group unemployment, labor‑force participation, and alternative measures without giving a current Somali-by-gender unemployment rate in the material presented ^{[5] [6] [4]}. Therefore, current male–female comparative unemployment rates “not found in current reporting.”

4. Why disaggregated data is scarce and why that matters

Sources note that disaggregated data for African-origin groups — and specifically Somali Minnesotans — is often limited, which complicates precise measurement and policy targeting ^{[2] [4]}. Culture Care Connection points to education gaps (34% of Somalis ages 25–64 without a high school diploma) and language barriers as contributors to higher unemployment risk, factors that may disproportionately affect women depending on age, education, and childcare responsibilities ^[2]. The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development emphasizes the value of alternative measures and demographic breakdowns, implying official data collection limits can obscure subgroup realities ^[6].

5. Trends and competing narratives: improvement vs. persistent disadvantage

Tradeoffs in the reporting appear: Minnesota Chamber and state analyses stress upward mobility over decades — falling poverty, rising workforce participation, more Somali-owned businesses — arguing the community’s economic position has improved ^[3]. At the same time, community advocates and cultural‑responsiveness groups highlight that Somali adults still face unemployment 2–3 times the state average and elevated poverty, indicating ongoing structural barriers ^{[2] [3]}. Both perspectives are supported in the sources: long‑run gains are documented, but significant gaps remain ^{[3] [2]}.

6. What to look for next and where to get authoritative breakdowns

To answer the original question definitively for the present day you would need a recent American Community Survey or Minnesota DEED/State Demographic Center table that disaggregates Somali (or foreign‑born Somali) unemployment by gender; those specific, current tables are not in the provided set ^{[5] [6]}. The Minnesota Department of Administration’s chartbook and DEED’s alternative‑measures releases are the most likely official places to find such disaggregated, recent statistics if they are available ^{[5] [6]}.

Limitations: This analysis relies only on the supplied sources. Some facts — including up‑to‑date statewide Somali male vs. female unemployment rates — were not available in the provided reporting and therefore are explicitly noted as not found ^{[1] [2] [6]}.