Poverty, Income and Economic Opportunity
Poverty Rises, Median Income Falls and More Minnesotans Go Without Health Insurance in 2010, April 2012
Between 2000 and 2010, poverty increased, household incomes stagnated and more residents were without health insurance in Minnesota. Communities of color were especially hard hit, with higher levels of poverty, lower incomes and more people without health insurance.
Federal Poverty Thresholds and Guidelines, Updated April 2012
The federal government provides two different measures of poverty. Poverty thresholds are used to calculate official statistics and poverty guidelines are used to determine eligibility for certain programs. This page provides current information for both measures.
About the Minimum Wage, Updated July 2011
The federal government and the State of Minnesota both have minimum wage laws. The federal government raised the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour effective July 24, 2009. It is higher than the state minimum wage and applies to most Minnesota workers. The state law applies to workers who are not covered by the federal law. That includes a $5.25 an hour minimum wage for some small business employees and a short-term $4.90 an hour training wage.
More Poverty, Income and Economic Opportunity Analysis
- Reducing Poverty in Minnesota, September 2008
- Economic Recovery was a Bust for Minnesota, December 2007
- Income Inequality in Minnesota: 2006, January 2006
- Wage Outlook in Minnesota: Labor Day 2004, September 2004
- Families Lose Ground in "Jobless" Economic Recovery, October 2003
- Poverty Rates Increase, Incomes and Health Coverage Fall in 2001, Updated November 2002
- Poverty Rates Reach Record Lows in 2000, November 2001
- The State of Working Minnesota: 2001, August 2001
- Poverty Despite Work in Minnesota, June 2000
- Census Reports Record Low Poverty Rate: Minnesota Still "Above Average," October 2000
- Evaluation of the Minnesota Family Investment Program, September 2000
- Making a Living? The State of Working Minnesota, September 2000
- Income Inequality in Minnesota, 1970s to 1990s, January 2000
