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Immigrants and the economy in:

Minnesota District 4

  • Immigrant Residents

    96,316

  • Immigrant Share of Population

    13.7%

  • Immigrant Taxes Paid

    $821.4M

  • Immigrant Spending Power

    $2.2B

  • Immigrant Entrepreneurs

    1,870

  • Immigrant Share Ranking

    152 of 435

  • Data Year

    2017

Demographics

Similar to the United States as a whole, immigrants in most districts are more likely to be of working age—defined as being between the ages of 25 and 64—than the native-born population. This allows them to contribute to U.S. entitlement programs and also assume roles helping seniors as they age.

Age Group Foreign-Born Population Share U.S.-Born Population Share
0-24 21.9% 35.5%
25-64 69.4% 50.3%
65+ 8.6% 14.1%

Workforce

Nationally, immigrants are 17.2 percent more likely to hold a graduate degree than natives. They are also more likely to have less than a bachelor’s degree. This lets them assume positions at the high and low ends of the workforce that might otherwise remain unfilled, hurting local businesses or leading employers to relocate elsewhere. Here, we show the educational attainment of immigrants in this district and the five industries where they make up the largest share of workers.

Educational Attainment by Nativity, Age 25+
Workforce Education Foreign-Born Population U.S.-Born Population
Less Than High School 29.0% 4.4%
High School & Some College 38.9% 50.7%
Bachelor's Degree 16.7% 27.9%
Graduate Degree 15.4% 17.1%
Top Industries with Highest Share of Foreign-Born Workers
Manufacturing 22.7%
Transportation and warehousing, and utilities 18.3%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation, and accommodation and food services 17.9%
Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services 16.5%
Agriculture 15.6%

Voting Power

Nationally, 19.1 million immigrants were eligible to vote in 2014—a group that could have a particularly important role in coming election cycles, given the narrow margins of victory that have decided presidential elections in recent years.

Eligible Immigrant Voters Registered Immigrant Voters
46,239 29,777

Home Ownership

Immigrant families have long played an important role helping to build housing wealth in the United States. In recent decades, the more than 40 million immigrants collectively in the country increased U.S. housing wealth by $3.7 trillion. Much of this was possible because immigrants moved into neighborhoods once in decline, helping to revitalize local communities and make them more attractive to U.S.-born residents.

Number of Homes Owned by Immigrants
15,934

Taxes & Spending Power

Nationally, immigrants earned $1.3 trillion in 2014 and contributed $105 billion in state and local taxes and almost $224 billion in federal taxes. This left them with nearly $927 billion in spending power. Immigrants play an important role contributing to local economies both as consumers and taxpayers.
Immigrant Household Income $3.0B
Taxes Paid $821.4M
— State & Local Taxes $271.9M
— Federal Taxes $549.4M
Total Spending Power $2.2B

Entrepreneurship

Immigrants nationally are 28 percent more likely to be entrepreneurs than natives. In 2010, roughly one in 10 American workers with jobs at private firms were employed at immigrant-founded companies. Immigrants similarly play an important role as entrepreneurs in this district.
How many immigrant entrepreneurs reside in this district? 1,870

About NAE

New American Economy is a bipartisan research and advocacy organization fighting for smart federal, state, and local immigration policies that help grow our economy and create jobs for all Americans. More…

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