Economic Disparities: A Deep Dive into Cultural Differences
Get a close look at the continuing deep economic disparities among Minnesota’s different cultural groups in “The Economic Status of Minnesotans 2023,” a new report by the Minnesota State Demographic Center.
The report analyzes data points that compare the state’s 17 largest cultural groups, including Somali, Hmong, Mexican, Dakota and white, among others.
The report highlights glaring disparities. For instance, median household income ranged from a low of about $28,800 for Somali households and certain American Indian households to a high of $120,600 for Asian Indian households. White households had a median income of about $75,000.
Similarly, unemployment differed wildly among cultural groups. It was four times higher among adults from American Indian, African American, and Somali communities compared to Asian Indian, Chinese, Filipino, Lao, Vietnamese, Puerto Rican and white households. Homeownership — commonly viewed as a key factor in building generational wealth — varied from a high of 77 percent for white households to 25 percent for African Americans, and 11 percent among Somalis.