Black Minnesotan workers in Minnesota could see a $2 billion gain in income or $10,000 per worker if they moved up just one level in their educational attainment – for example completing high school or college education.
Minnesota gains in two big ways: First, this increased income will generate new spending from restaurants to apartment rentals and home ownership, which in turn will support the creation of 19,000 + jobs and $3 billion in output. This new income will also support $425 million in new federal, state and local taxes. These estimates are derived from the IMPLAN economic model of the ALANA Brain Trust.
The second big way Minnesota will gain is through the improved skills and productivity of Black workers all across Minnesota. There are at least 19 Minnesotan counties with at least 500 Black workers playing a critical role in the rural and urban economies.
Covid has a devastating impact on Black Minnesotans – health, jobs and businesses. This is reflected in the long term unemployment captured in Minnesota DEED data. It is well known that minority workers tend to be in sectors hard hit by the Pandemic and civil unrest and many of these sectors unemployment is permanent.
There is a very strong case for investment in Black Minnesotan workers. As the data and economic simulation shows. Investing in Black Minnesotans will benefit – ALL Minnesotans. As the African American proverb states “Lift as we Climb.”
The ALANA Brain Trust is a network of individual and organizations working to build capacity, capital and collaboration in the ALANA (African Latino Asian and Native American) communities. Jane Leonard (Growth & Justice), Brett Buckner (OneMN.org) and Bruce Corrie (EmpoweringStrategies.org) serve as stewards of the ALANA Brain Trust.
