For Minnesota’s continued growth
It is imperative to attract immigrants into our declining labor force in order to address the challenges linked to the slowing growth of the state’s population.
To incorporate immigrants into the economy more completely and rapidly we must create ways to use their existing human capital and increase their skills through training, education and opportunity.
Reality through numbers
“Population Decline”
12.3 million: Native population decline of those who possess a high school diploma or less (ages 25-44), 1990-2010.
3.6 million: Projected shortage of blue collar workers for current jobs by 2024.
5 million: Additional blue collar jobs that will be created by 2024.
51.8 million: Jobs requiring a bachelor's degree or less, 2015.
Sources: 1 New American Economy, “A Crucial Piece of the Puzzle: Demographic Change and Why Immigrants are Needed to Fill America’s Less-Skilled Labor Gap,” March 2014. Available online.
2 Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Industry-Occupation Employment Matrix 2014-2024, April 2016. Available online.
3.Minnesota Chamber Foundation, “The Economic Contributions of Immigrants in Minnesota” March 2021. Available Online.
“As the population ages and the economy grows, Minnesota will not have the numbers of people available to fill labor needs, and immigrants are a key solution to this challenge.”
- Minnesota Chamber of Commerce.
“Manufacturing jobs”
20% of all refugees in Minnesota (1 in 5), work in manufacturing, the second-largest concentration by industry after health care.
Lower English Ability Required as often the skills involved are more often learned on the job, rather than in school.
$52 billion: The single largest private sector component of Minnesota’s GDP totalling 13% of the state’s total employment in 2019.
Sources: Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, “Hiring Difficulties in Manufacturing” September 2019. Available online.
Sources: Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, “The Economic Contributions of Immigrants in Minnesota: Key Industries’ Reliance On Immigrant Talent” May 2021. Available online.
“Without a substantial incorporation of immigrants into Minnesota’s labor force, our economy will grow noticeably slower in the future”
-Ryan Allen, Professor Humphrey School of Public Affairs
“Higher retention rate s”
73% of companies surveyed reported that refugee retention rates are far higher than native born employees.
4% is the average turnover rate for refugees, compared to 11% for native born employees working in manufacturing.
30% of immigrants ages 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared with 31% of the U.S. born.
Sources: The Fiscal Policy Institute(FPI),”Refugees as Employees: Good retention, strong recruitment.” May 2018. Available Online.
“Refugees we have hired come to work & get the job done”
– CEO of a NY based manufacturing company
WHY HIRE REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANTS?
Throughout our history the United States has been a haven for refugees. Not only providing safety, the US has allowed for refugees to rebuild their lives and contribute to our country in many positive ways.
From Albert Einstein to Madeleine Albright, and from Sergei Brin to Gloria Estefan, refugees have made the United States stronger, wealthier, and more dynamic.
- Lutheran Immigration & Refugee Services
The tools outlined in the report are meant to provide information about how and why companies should hire refugees.
Partners
If you are a Minneapolis-St. Paul metro based business, please contact us if you would like information or to set up a meeting on becoming one of our valued employment partners!
