Income and Work

Minnesota has one of the highest rates of labor force participation in the country, but that doesn’t mean that all Minnesotans are able to make ends meet. We research economic trends to understand who’s faring well in today’s economy, and who is left behind. We advocate for economic policies, particularly those that improve wages and job quality standards, so that more Minnesotans can thrive.

Research

April 2016

Key groups of Minnesotans still struggling to find work in economic recovery

The economic recovery has taken hold in Minnesota. Our state has recovered the jobs lost from the recession, and our unemployment rate is one of the lowest in the nation. But these figures disguise the fact that many Minnesota workers are not sharing in the state’s economic growth. Since Minnesota’s economic strength depends on more Minnesotans successfully participating in the workforce, making opportunity available to all should be a priority.

September 2015

For many, hard work is not enough: The state of working Minnesota 2015

While Minnesota is recovering from the Great Recession, many working Minnesotans still struggle to reach economic securi...

August 2015

Minnesota's workers need earned sick and safe time

Hard-working Minnesotans should not lose wages or their jobs when they take time off to care for themselves or a sick family member, or deal with domestic abuse. But currently, 1.1 million Minnesotans, or 41 percent of the state’s workforce, face this situation because their jobs do not offer earned sick leave. These workers live all across the state, and in some counties, including Stearns and St. Louis, about half of all workers lack access to earned sick leave.

February 2015

Too many Minnesota workers face low pay and few benefits: The state of working Minnesota 2014

Minnesota is known for our hard-working residents, but too many find that their hard work is not enough. Wages haven’t kept up with the cost of living, and jobs that only offer part-time hours and lack critical benefits aren't enough to make ends meet.

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Income and Work Blog Posts

January 25, 2024

Proposed federal Child Tax Credit expansion would boost the incomes of millions of families

Congress is considering passing an important expansion of the federal Child Tax Credit that would benefit about 16 million children in low-income families across the US. But it's not a sure thing yet. We've included a link in the blog to email your representatives today, urging them to pass an expanded CTC and reduce poverty among the nation's children.

May 12, 2023

2023 tax conference committee weighs similarities, differences in House, Senate, Walz tax plans

This year, policymakers are considering transformational changes and long-overdue investments to make Minnesota a state...

January 25, 2023

Child poverty declines sharply thanks to federal Child Tax Credit expansion

Thanks in part to improvements policymakers made to the federal Child Tax Credit (CTC), recent U.S. Census data show that from 2019 to 2021, child poverty fell a remarkable 59 percent. Minnesota policymakers should build on that success and create a state Child Tax Credit.

November 09, 2022

Minnesota college students increasingly facing basic economic, mental health challenges

Minnesota should prioritize funding basic needs programs and mental health services so that every college student can succeed regardless of their income or where they live.

More Income & Work Blogs

Highlighted Research

State of Working Minnesota: Barriers Keep Many from Making Ends Meet

Despite Minnesota's economic recovery from the Great Recession, many Minnesotans have not seen the wage growth we would expect nearly a decade later. And many people still face barriers to finding good jobs and supporting themselves and their families, according to analysis from the Economic Policy Institute. Our State of Working Minnesota report digs deeper into the data.

Income and Work

Research

Key groups of Minnesotans still struggling to find work in economic recovery

For many, hard work is not enough: The state of working Minnesota 2015

Minnesota's workers need earned sick and safe time

Too many Minnesota workers face low pay and few benefits: The state of working Minnesota 2014

Income and Work Blog Posts

Proposed federal Child Tax Credit expansion would boost the incomes of millions of families

2023 tax conference committee weighs similarities, differences in House, Senate, Walz tax plans

Child poverty declines sharply thanks to federal Child Tax Credit expansion

Minnesota college students increasingly facing basic economic, mental health challenges

Highlighted Research

State of Working Minnesota: Barriers Keep Many from Making Ends Meet

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