S E V E N T H A N N U A L

2 0 2 2

BUSINESS
BENCHMARKS
RESILIENCY AND RECOVERY
 The Minnesota Chamber of
Commerce was selected as 2021’s
State Chamber of the Year by
the national Council of State
Chambers of Commerce. This
award recognizes the Minnesota
Chamber for its innovative
initiatives and best practices that
advance the state’s economy and
provide exceptional services
and results for members.
 2022
BUSINESS
BENCHMARKS

Executive Summary
Minnesota’s economy – much like its people – is resilient. For more than a year and a half,
businesses across the state have weathered the unpredictability of a worldwide pandemic, and
the subsequent changes in demand, supply chains and government imposed shutdowns. Yet
here we are: a recovering economy offering more jobs than people to fill them, with businesses
continuing to pivot and innovate, ushering in a new phase of prosperity for the future.

Each year, the Minnesota Chamber produces the Business Benchmarks report to make sense
of the success of our economy relative to other states. This also benchmarks our progress
toward recovery and our competitiveness. Is Minnesota a good place to do business? Do we have
the tools in place to attract and retain business growth and skilled talent to all areas of our state, and
continue to contribute to the quality of life that our citizens enjoy? Let’s dig into the details and find out.

Among this year’s findings:

• Minnesota’s economy is resilient but underperforming. Our GDP growth continues to lag the national average
– although it isn’t among the worst in the nation, but considering our diverse economy we are outpaced by
those we should surpass.
• Despite incremental progress on lowering taxes, such as providing relief on business property taxes and to those
who accepted Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, Minnesota remains among the highest taxed states in the
nation, hindering economic growth.
• Many businesses illustrated the state’s legacy of innovation throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, but more can be
done to foster entrepreneurship, especially among immigrants and people of color.
• Each element of Minnesota’s infrastructure – air, water, roads and digital connectivity – remains strong and helps
move commerce through to every corner of the state, and beyond.
• The cost of doing business continues to vacillate, but specific costs continue to rise, such as electricity.
• Minnesota employers face new heights of the historic worker shortage. This is the result of a complicated set of
factors, including eroding labor participation, lags in migration and the worst achievement gap in the nation.

The Business Benchmarks is a great snapshot in time of the state of Minnesota’s economy. At the Minnesota Chamber,
we are dedicated to bringing our members, the broader business community and the public at large, up-to-date data on
the economy.

The Chamber Foundation continues to build on its reputation as a leader on Minnesota’s economy, following the
release of the Minnesota: 2030 report. This critical report and its ongoing applications outline the strengths of
Minnesota’s business legacy, as well as challenges in growing the economy to one that makes Minnesota attractive to
lucrative industries, keeps strong employers in the state and leverages workforce opportunities to build a workforce
pipeline for the future.

We hope the data contained in this report and the work of the Chamber Foundation and Grow Minnesota! program
helps you make business decisions. We reaffirm our commitment to working with you – being an advocacy champion
for Minnesota’s statewide business community, providing thought-leadership on the economy and promoting
economic opportunity for all Minnesotans.

Doug Loon
President and CEO, Minnesota Chamber of Commerce
MINNESOTA 2022 BUSINESS BENCHMARKS 1
 S E V E N T H A N N U A L

2 0 2 2

BUSINESS
BENCHMARKS RESILIENCY AND RECOVERY

2 MINNESOTA 2022 BUSINESS BENCHMARKS

Table of
Contents
Economy ................................. 4
Taxes ........................................ 6
Innovation .............................. 8
Infrastructure ....................... 10
Cost of doing business ....... 12
Workforce .............................. 14

MINNESOTA 2022 BUSINESS BENCHMARKS 3

Economy
T he success of Minnesota’s economy depends
on a diverse and sophisticated network of
dynamics. But sometimes success is simple to
didn’t just need to be cold – their safety required
transport at negative 70 degrees Celsius; or the
temperature on Mars. Thermo King innovated
identify, when you see it. yet again, and added a “super freezer” to their
Thermo King’s COVID-19 story is one of portfolio. When life-saving vaccines arrived in
success. This long-standing climate control Minnesota, it was Thermo King that brought
company entered the pandemic a global them there.
leader in their industry, with a large footprint Since then, the challenge has been keeping
in Minnesota and broad set of products. They up with growth and demand. Thermo King is
are leaving the pandemic as the one company that experiencing the widespread supply chain and
made the safe transport of COVID-19 vaccines into Stephanie Mocanda workforce issues seen elsewhere. They have taken
Minnesota possible. Communications Leader great steps to reduce their reliance on foreign supply
If you ask Stephanie Mocanda, Communications Thermo King
chains, instead focusing on local companies. And
Leader for Thermo King, they have innovated since while Mocanda cites Minnesota and North America
the beginning. “We put the cold in cold chain,” she as one of the “easiest places to get good people
says. Historically, ice blocks were used to safely move fresh food to come and work,” she also cites the need for skilled work in
and temperature-sensitive products. In 1938, a founder of Thermo the competitive areas of data science, electrification and other
King and a self-taught engineer invented transport refrigeration. specialized engineering fields. Thermo King is working with the
Now the company offers products in every section of the supply University of Minnesota to shape curricula and produce these
chain: trucks, ships, rail lines and air. skilled workers to stay in Minnesota.
At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, their customers Minnesota’s economy overall has weathered the COVID-19
were impacted by shutdowns and decreased demand. Food service storm because of companies like Thermo King. Leaning into
slowed to a crawl or shifted to home delivery. On top of the need to new opportunities through innovation and working to create a
pivot operations, they saw a new opportunity: the newly-released talent pipeline to keep these strong businesses in Minnesota for
COVID-19 vaccines required refrigeration for transport. They generations to come.

4 MINNESOTA 2022 BUSINESS BENCHMARKS

 2022
BUSINESS
BENCHMARKS

Economy: Resilient
but underperforming
T here is no one way to define economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. But it’s clear that Minnesota has come
a long way since the beginning days of shutdowns and widespread layoffs. The state’s GDP didn’t plummet as far as
other states’, but it’s not exceeding them either, keeping Minnesota in the middle of the pack. Minnesota is seeing a turnaround
in exports after experiencing a 10% decline in 2020. This is still better than the national export decline of 13%. Minnesota’s
unemployment rate continues to drop with job vacancies now greatly exceeding the number of unemployed workers.

MINNESOTA RANKING: 1ST IS BEST

2020 BETTER
GROWTH IN
STATE GDP
Ranked 35th
(4%)
National Average: (3.4%)
1
SPOT
FROM 2019

2020 BETTER
ANNUAL EXPORTS Ranked 20th
(9.5%)
National Average: (12.9%)
6
SPOTS
FROM 2019

SEPTEMBER 2021 BETTER

ANNUAL
JOB GROWTH
Ranked 13th
3.87%
National Average: 4.04%
22SPOTS
FROM 2020

2020 WORSE
PERSONAL
INCOME PER CAPITA
Ranked 16th
$61,540
National Average: $59,729
2
SPOTS
FROM 2019

2020
OUTPUT PER Ranked 13th SAME
WORKING ADULT $92,389 RANKING
AS 2019
National Average: $88,013

SEPTEMBER 2021 BETTER

UNEMPLOYMENT
RATE
Ranked 12th
3.7%
U.S. Rate: 4.8%
2
SPOTS
FROM 2020

MINNESOTA 2022 BUSINESS BENCHMARKS 5

Taxes
I f you ask business leaders in Minnesota, high
taxes are a perennial challenge to growth.
In a recent statewide survey of leaders from
them keep staff employed as the company –
and economy – began to recover. “PPP really
allowed us to keep everybody working,”
throughout the state, most said that they will try says Janisch. “We were able to reinvest their
to grow here, but the number of those who will time into projects in our shop and warehouse
look to grow elsewhere or move has gone up and take advantage of that time to improve
year-over-year and now stands at nearly 40%. operations.”
This makes it especially important to keep The Minnesota Chamber led the statewide
businesses like Jasper Engineering and Equipment effort to offer tax relief on these forgivable loans
Co. in Minnesota. Jasper has a strong employee in the 2021 Legislative Session, which resulted in
presence and customers across 10 states, but strong Jason Janisch $409 million in relief for nearly 190,000 Minnesota
roots in Minnesota. “I’m an iron range guy,” says Jason Vice President businesses that accepted these loans.
Janisch, Vice President at Jasper. Jasper has engineered Jasper Engineering
Despite the challenges of a pandemic economy over
and Equipment Co.
instrumentation, process equipment and controls since 1958, the last year and a half, Jasper has nearly completely
to industries such as mining, oil and gas, grain and biofuels, recovered to pre-COVID levels of production. But other
pharmaceutical and medical technology, power and municipal water challenges remain. Taxes, high energy costs and inflation don’t just
treatment, food and dairy, and chemical and oilseed processing. impact a business’s bottom line, but create a ripple effect of other
Like many other businesses, their customers were hit differently challenges too. Finding workers in greater Minnesota and supply
throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, causing them to shift their chain dynamics hinder growth.
operations to meet changing needs. When the taconite mines shut But Jasper hopes to meet these challenges head-on. Janisch
down in northern Minnesota, Jasper shifted to weather the storm. looks toward reshoring opportunities as well as the resurgence of
Among other things, they started selling inferred temperature displays manufacturing and upward momentum of the industrial sector in
and monitors that businesses could use to improve employee and the upper Midwest as good signs for their future. “We are well
customer safety and continue the fight against COVID-19. positioned to help our customers reach their goals,” he says. “That’s
And a federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan helped pretty exciting for us.”

6 MINNESOTA 2022 BUSINESS BENCHMARKS

 2022
BUSINESS
BENCHMARKS

Taxes: Incremental progress,

barriers remain
I n 2021, the Legislature took meaningful steps toward tax relief for businesses by conforming to the federal tax treatment for
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, as well as continuing progress on business property tax relief. But Minnesota remains
a top-taxed state in many categories, and the Minnesota Chamber successfully defeated over $1 billion in new, permanent tax
increases proposed last session. In a recent survey of business leaders, nearly half of respondents said that reducing taxes was the most
important issue that lawmakers could tackle. In the same survey, high taxes were cited as the biggest barrier to business.

MINNESOTA RANKING: 1ST IS HIGHEST COST

STATE BUSINESS TAX 2021 SAME

RANKING
CLIMATE INDEX Ranked 5th AS 2020

PASS-THROUGH AND 2021

SAME
INDIVIDUAL INCOME Ranked 5th RANKING
TOP TAX RATES 9.85% AS 2020

WORSE
1
2021
STATE AND LOCAL Ranked 17th
SALES TAX RATES 7.46% SPOT
FROM 2020

WORSE
1
2021
CORPORATE Ranked 3rd
INCOME TAX RATE 9.8% SPOT
FROM 2020

2018 BETTER
OVERALL STATE
AND LOCAL TAXES
PER CAPITA
Ranked 10th
$6,418
National Average: $5,392
1
SPOT
FROM 2017

2021 WORSE
STATE GAS TAX Ranked 26th
30.6¢/gallon 4
SPOTS
National Average: 36.35¢/gallon FROM 2020

MINNESOTA 2022 BUSINESS BENCHMARKS 7

Innovation
I nnovation helps define Minnesota’s business
legacy. In the last few years – and throughout
the COVID-19 pandemic – businesses operating
care ecosystem,” says Landon. When considering
what benefits there are to doing business
in Minnesota, he says, “Being part of this
in Minnesota have fueled that legacy in many community helps with innovation, talent
areas, including health care. attraction and collaboration with academic
During COVID, Philips invested over $100 medical centers and universities.” In 2020,
million in the production ramp-up of acute care Philips opened an “innovation lab” across the
solutions to diagnose, treat, manage and monitor street from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester.
COVID-19 patients. During shutdowns, there were They also cite the strong pool of talent produced
fewer planes, ships and trucks available to transport by Minnesota’s universities, when faced by similar
critical supplies to where they were needed. Philips Chris Landon workforce challenges as most companies are
partnered with KLM Airlines to start an air bridge to Senior Vice President experiencing at this point in COVID-19 recovery. “We
ensure that parts for these lifesaving devices could get Philips
are fortunate that there is such a strong pool of talent
where they needed to go. in this state,” says Landon. Innovating is an approach
According to Chris Landon, Senior Vice President and General to finding workers, as well. “With a large pool of industries and
Manager at Philips, dispatching 90% of their workforce to remote a strong university system, we can attract excellent employees.
work allowed them to “deliver at a much better scale, safely and Because the state has a strong concentration of medical technology
conveniently at a much lower cost to our customers, and I think companies, innovators and academia, it fits well into our ecosystem
fundamentally shifts how we deliver clinical training in the future.” approach Minnesota is a good location for Philips.”
Philips is a trusted, world-leading health technology company As for the future, the folks at Philips plan to keep providing new
that has expanded its product offerings and workforce in Minnesota and innovative technologies that help Minnesota be an attractive
by acquiring several companies over the last few years. They now place to do business and live a healthy life. They are working
employ 400 people and have offices in Maple Grove, Plymouth, on new maternal health solutions to improve outcomes, increase
Eagan and Minneapolis. Their Minnesota operations focus on engagement and member experience, while lowering costs. One of
providing airway clearance solutions for patients with chronic these solutions, an app called Pregnancy+, is already the world’s
respiratory conditions, manufacturing of medical devices for number one downloaded pregnancy app. It helps expecting mothers
minimally-invasive cardiovascular procedures and developing track their pregnancy progress. And Philips Lumify, a mobile
cloud-based population health management software solutions. ultrasound tool, helps high-risk moms connect with providers
“Philips is proud to be part of Minnesota’s world-class health quickly and bring care into a home or rural clinic.

8 MINNESOTA 2022 BUSINESS BENCHMARKS

 2022
BUSINESS
BENCHMARKS

Innovation:
A perennial bright spot
M innesota’s legacy of business innovation was on display throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Businesses pivoted to
meet shifting demand, changing supply chains and government-imposed shut downs. Minnesota ranks first for the five-
year business survival rate, and even though entrepreneurship activity is slightly better than previous years, startup challenges
remain. This is especially true for immigrants and entrepreneurs of color. According to the Minnesota Chamber’s report, “The
Economic Contributions of Immigrants to Minnesota,” there are 18,000 entrepreneurial immigrants in the state, and they play an
increasingly important role in the economy through job creation, innovation and GDP growth. Challenges can be both needs-
based and opportunity-based and include access to capital and time to acquire business knowledge to start a company.

MINNESOTA RANKING: 1ST IS BEST

BETTER
1
WORKFORCE 2020
TECHNOLOGY AND Ranked 6th
SCIENCE MILKEN INDEX 71.33 SPOT
FROM 2018

2020
VENTURE CAPITAL Ranked 9th SAME
RANKING
PER CAPITA $230 per capita AS 2019
National Average: $394

2015-2020 BETTER
BUSINESS
5-YEAR SURVIVAL
Ranked 1st
55.3%
National Average: 50%
3
SPOTS
FROM 2014-2019

ENTREPRENEURSHIP 2020 BETTER

STARTUP ACTIVITY
(% POPULATION
STARTING BUSINESS)
Ranked 48th
0.18%
National Average: 0.38%
1
SPOT
FROM 2019

2020

PATENTS PER Ranked 6th SAME

889 per million RANKING
CAPITA people AS 2019

National Average: 574

MINNESOTA 2022 BUSINESS BENCHMARKS 9

Infrastructure
A strong statewide network of infrastructure
is necessary to move goods and services
throughout the state. Minnesota is a connection
says Nuss. “People live in these cities and it’s
important to maximize uptime everywhere.”
Like many other businesses, Nuss was
point for the upper Midwest, and there is a deemed essential in the COVID-19 pandemic
vast network of businesses that rely on a sound with strong safety measures in place to serve
system of connections in the air, the water, the their customers. They responded to the shifting
roads and digital stratosphere. needs of the COVID economy for the last year
“I’ve been in this business 50 years,” said Bob and a half, pivoting the types of products to
Nuss, President of Nuss Truck and Equipment. specific clients.
Nuss is a third-generation family-owned business Meeting client needs has meant facing challenges
experiencing vast growth. They’ve come a long way Bob Nuss head-on, from supply chain to border closures and
President
since their humble roots in a repair shop in 1959. In Nuss Truck and Equipment inflation. There is an evolving landscape of part
addition to their Rochester headquarters, they operate shortages that have caused longer lead times and
in eight locations in Minnesota and Wisconsin, soon production delays. A hold-up on one single product
to add a ninth. Their business is the epitome of infrastructure: from can render a truck unusable for unknown amounts of time. And
the smallest gasket to the biggest rigs on the road, Nuss sells each to used truck pricing in the heavy-duty business has skyrocketed.
companies of all types. But growth is good for business, and Nuss seeks to continually
It’s about moving that product and outfitting the trucks that improve to meet demand. As the economy – in Minnesota, across
move on those roads. But it’s also about connectivity. “We have the region and the nation – moves out of the COVID-19 pandemic,
remote technicians who are working with either customers’ trucks businesses need to move supplies and products across roadways and
or construction equipment in areas where there’s no internet,” other elements of infrastructure.

10 MINNESOTA 2022 BUSINESS BENCHMARKS

 2022
BUSINESS
BENCHMARKS

Infrastructure:
Ongoing improvements
E ven when some business were ordered to shutter early in the pandemic citing health and safety, Minnesota’s infrastructure
was moving the economy along. Now, as the state – and nation – recover from COVID-related impacts, each element of
the state’s infrastructure; air, water, roads and digital connectivity, plays a critical role. Improved highway performance has made
those who rely on Minnesota roads to do business more resilient. But widespread reliance on broadband has called attention to
the inadequacies in Minnesota’s network. States with less landmass have an easier time reaching rural businesses and citizens,
and have seen their rankings improve faster than Minnesota, even though Minnesota private and public sectors have dedicated
significant resources to improving access in the state.

MINNESOTA RANKING: 1ST IS BEST

TOTAL
2021 BETTER
SCHEDULED
FLIGHTS
Ranked 11th
of 786 airports
108,414 flights
1
SPOT
FROM 2020

2020
TOTAL FREIGHT Ranked 8th SAME
RAIL MILES 4,233 freight RANKING
AS 2017
rail miles
2019
COMMUTE Ranked 18th SAME
TIMES 23.7 minutes RANKING
AS 2018
National Average: 26.9 minutes

BETTER
OVERALL HIGHWAY
PERFORMANCE
2018
Ranked 15th 7
SPOTS
FROM 2016

2021 WORSE
BROADBAND
COVERAGE
Ranked 28th
93.1%
National Average: 92.2%
14SPOTS
FROM 2020

MINNESOTA 2022 BUSINESS BENCHMARKS 11

Cost of doing business
T he cost of doing business encompasses several
factors and can vary by industry and location
in the state. For Resoundant Inc., a medical
continued beyond the health and safety of their
employees. Three out of four of their clients are
outside the United States, and moving products
technology company in Rochester, costs can became difficult. “It touched everything from
often impact their business operations, but never freight management and carriers picking up
their capacity for innovation. product on time to trying to deliver on time,
Resoundant produces MR Elastography, based on a standard OEM deadline,” Anderson
an advanced MRI technique that can be added says.
to MRI scanners. Originally a part of the Mayo Early on, elective surgeries slowed to a halt,
Clinic, MR Elastography helps identify liver fibrosis and Resoundant predicted that they would have
and cirrhosis noninvasively. Aside from diagnosing plenty of product on-hand. Then when business
these conditions noninvasively, Resoundant’s Kathy Anderson picked up again, they struggled to keep up with
technology also helps advance research into new COO demand. Now they have customers asking for
liver-treating medications. With thousands of locations delivery confirmations up to 18 months in advance.
Resoundant

now offering MR Elastography, Resoundant’s flagship Like most other businesses, Resoundant worries
innovation is now the standard of care in hospitals and clinics about their workforce. “We don’t talk about the human side of
throughout the world. this enough,” says Anderson. “Rather than think you’re going
At the onset of COVID-19, it was clear to Kathy Anderson, to entice someone to come back with a signing bonus, many
Resoundant’s Chief Operating Officer, they would have to pivot companies have found that they need to think differently.”
their employee-based practices to continue to operate effectively. Acknowledging cost of living challenges and offering enhanced
She knew they “couldn’t navigate these unprecedented times benefits, including behavioral and mental health coverage,
without locking arms with others.” Like many, Anderson turned can often help companies support and retain employees.
to to the Minnesota Chamber, where she could leverage the Additionally, notes Anderson, companies can work with higher
Chamber’s COVID-19 employer resources. She also joined ed in their region to help build the talent pipeline for the future.
a policy committee to work with other Chamber member What’s next for Resoundant? They plan to grow out of the
organizations on health care policies. COVID-19 pandemic into a new era of radiology products and
And despite COVID-19, Resoundant persevered, diversified clinical trials that help their clients and the health of those who
and grew. Challenges from the pandemic-related economy benefit from the medical insight that their products provide.

12 MINNESOTA 2022 BUSINESS BENCHMARKS

 2022
BUSINESS
BENCHMARKS

Cost of doing business:

Vacillating performance
T he cost of doing business in Minnesota encompasses several economic factors. Year-after-year, the state’s ranking on
individual costs change, usually placing Minnesota in the middle of the national pack. Minnesota has seen some erosion in
a previous key competitive advantage. The cost of electricity is one of the costs that has crept up incrementally over the last few
decades and Minnesota now has the 11th highest costs in the nation for industrial customers. Cost of living remains in the middle
of the pack, which will increase in importance to attracting and retaining talent during a historic worker shortage.

MINNESOTA RANKING: 1ST IS HIGHEST COST

2021 WORSE
ELECTRICITY
(AVERAGE PRICE FOR
INDUSTRIAL CUSTOMERS)
Ranked 11th
8.22¢/kWh
National Average: 7.10¢/kWh
2
SPOTS
FROM 2020

2020 BETTER
INDIVIDUAL HEALTH
INSURANCE PREMIUM
(EMPLOYER SPONSORED)
Ranked 38th
$6,910 15
SPOTS
National Average: $7,149 FROM 2019

2020 WORSE
WORKERS’
COMPENSATION
PREMIUMS
Ranked 17th
112%
National Average 100%
11
SPOTS
FROM 2018

BETTER
UNEMPLOYMENT
TAX RANKING
2020
Ranked 19th 2
SPOTS
FROM 2019

2019 WORSE
COST OF LIVING Ranked 20th
98
National Average: 100
3
SPOTS
FROM 2018

MINNESOTA 2022 BUSINESS BENCHMARKS 13

Workforce
I t’s nearly impossible to have a conversation
with a business leader without talking about
workforce. Challenges have evolved but
succeed. “Addressing soft skills; getting
people comfortable with working and
expressing themselves, so they can
persisted over a decade, with employers in communicate their needs… and having the
search of skilled workers to fill positions. While right onboarding programs.”
the long-term and systemic answers to these As the economy emerges from the COVID-19
challenges will vary by industry and area of the pandemic, more employers are looking for
state, there is one organization that proudly boasts, workers than ever before. There is currently a
“We have the labor force you need,” and means it. shortage of 300,000 workers in Minnesota. Yet a high
In 1964, MDI (Minnesota Diversified Industries) Eric Black number of people with disabilities are unemployed but
started as an Occupational Training Center, but quickly President and CEO looking for work – 11.3%. And more people with a
transformed into a social enterprise manufacturer. MDI
disability have a two-year degree than those without a
MDI manufactures plastics, offers production services disability – 35.7% and 34.3% respectively.
such as packaging and assembly with a controlled What is it going to take for employers to include
environment mecical white room. They employ hundreds of people workers with disabilities in their workforce strategy? “Everyone has
with and without disabilities, providing inclusive jobs that provide a diversity and inclusion strategy,” says Black. “Many employers
purpose, independence and empowerment. can meet – if not exceed – their goals by hiring people with
Minnesota’s employment rate for people with disabilities is disabilities, because they are multifactorial.” He also suggests that
48.4% – that’s almost half the employment rate for people without employers examine how diversifying their workforce can “help
a disability. According to Eric Black, President of MDI, employers them achieve higher levels of profitability and capability to meet
need to reexamine how they look at potential employees with stakeholder needs.”
disabilities. “You don’t have to create a job for a person with Employers can also lean on companies like MDI and a coalition
a disability,” he says. “They are fully capable of taking on the they lead called Unified Work, which advances employment
challenge that employers have today and successfully achieving opportunities through a model that helps businesses successfully
those jobs, including manufacturing… People with disabilities attract, hire, train and support employees with disabilities. “At
aren’t limiting themselves, right? It’s the people around them.” MDI, our goal is to employ 2,500 people by 2026. And we need
He offers simple steps to help employees with disabilities other employers to step up and take part in this.”

14 MINNESOTA 2022 BUSINESS BENCHMARKS

 2022
BUSINESS
BENCHMARKS

Workforce:
Historic challenges continue
A s businesses work to rebound from a COVID-19 economy, the workforce challenges they faced in prior years
seem dwarfed by the historic challenges that they face today. The worker shortage has reached more than 300,000
in Minnesota. And while the state still boasts a highly educated workforce, labor participation has eroded, with nearly
111,000 citizens currently unemployed. Migration continues to challenge the pipeline, with Minnesota losing talent to
other states. And Minnesota’s achievement gap remains the worst in the nation, widening the gap of opportunities between
white students and students of color.

MINNESOTA RANKING: 1ST IS BEST

2019 WORSE
8TH-GRADE
READING SCORES
Ranked 20th
264 average
National Average: 262
8
SPOTS
FROM 2017

2019 WORSE
ON-TIME
HIGH SCHOOL
GRADUATION RATE
Ranked 36th
84% 2
SPOTS
National Average: 86% FROM 2018

SEPTEMBER 2021 WORSE

LABOR
PARTICIPATION
RATE
Ranked 6th
67.9%
National Average: 61.6%
3
SPOTS
FROM 2020

WORSE
1
2010-2020
NET DOMESTIC Ranked 29th
MIGRATION (37,326) net loss SPOT
FROM 2010-2019

NET 2010-2020
Ranked 18th SAME
INTERNATIONAL RANKING
IMMIGRATION 125,999 gain AS 2010-2019

MINNESOTA 2022 BUSINESS BENCHMARKS 15

Minnesota Chamber:
Let’s grow together
The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce has provided a voice – the collective voice –
for businesses for more than 110 years. They have fostered their vision of a future for
business that improves the lives of all Minnesotans by successfully shaping Minnesota’s
economy and helping businesses thrive and grow within the state.

The average Chamber member stays for more than 30 years.

What’s your why?
Bret Weiss, Brooke Lee, Kelly Larson,
President and CEO, Anchor CFO, Summit
CEO, WSB Paper Co. Brewing Company
“My why is “My why is “My why is
leadership empowerment. reliability. The
development. They Being ahead of the Minnesota Chamber
have a fundamental information curve was there for Summit
commitment to developing [during the COVID-19 as a growing company in so many ways
relationships and delivering pandemic] enabled me to lead during the COVID-19 pandemic. But
content through specific my business from the front and it’s not just during times of a pandemic
programs that drive business make key decisions in a timely when we value our membership. I
excellence… My membership manner. Thank you, Minnesota understand the importance of the work
in the Minnesota Chamber is Chamber of Commerce, for the Minnesota Chamber does, which
one of the most important empowering us to raise our makes our membership an investment
investments I make every year.” voices and be heard.” we will make every year.”

We are Minnesota’s largest broad-based business organization representing

more than 6,300 companies – and more than half a million employees – FOR MORE
throughout Minnesota. The Chamber builds on its legacy as a voice for business
by advancing public policy that grows jobs and the economy, and providing
INFORMATION
valuable services to members so they stay and grow in Minnesota. A business ABOUT
climate that allows for innovation and forward-thinking leadership will help MEMBERSHIP
grow the strength of Minnesota’s economy for future generations.

16 MINNESOTA 2022 BUSINESS BENCHMARKS

 F E D E R AT I O N 2022
MINNESOTA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS
BENCHMARKS
Thank you,
Chamber Federation
Economic data from the Minnesota Chamber:

Empowering Minnesota’s
Minnesota Chamber advocacy is further bolstered by
the 40-plus partners who are unified as the Minnesota

economic future
Chamber Federation – local chambers of commerce that
adopt and advocate for your top legislative priorities.

Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce

Alexandria Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce
Understanding Minnesota’s economic future is key to its
Apple Valley Chamber of Commerce long-term success. The Minnesota Chamber Foundation
Austin Area Chamber of Commerce
Bemidji Area Chamber of Commerce and Grow Minnesota! program play a critical role in
Brainerd Lakes Chamber of Commerce strengthening the business environment to improve the
Burnsville Chamber of Commerce
Cloquet Area Chamber of Commerce lives of all Minnesotans through economic research.
Cuyuna Lakes Chamber of Commerce
Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce
Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce
Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce
Elk River Area Chamber of Commerce

Minnesota: 2030
Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber of Commerce
Faribault Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism
Fergus Falls Area Chamber of Commerce
Glenwood Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce A forward-thinking report providing
Grand Forks/East Grand Forks Chamber of Commerce a framework for economic growth
Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce in Minnesota.
Greater Mankato Growth
Greater Stillwater Chamber of Commerce
Hastings Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau
Hibbing Area Chamber of Commerce

Contributions
Hutchinson Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism
International Falls Area Chamber of Commerce
Lakeville Area Chamber of Commerce
Laurentian Chamber of Commerce of immigrants
Litchfield Area Chamber of Commerce
Marshall Area Chamber of Commerce
in Minnesota
MetroNorth Chamber of Commerce A study on how immigrant
New Ulm Area Chamber of Commerce
entrepreneurs, workers drive
Northfield Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism
Owatonna Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Minnesota’s economy.
Pipestone Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitor’s Bureau
Redwood Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism
River Heights Chamber of Commerce
Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce
St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce 
Shakopee Chamber of Commerce 
Grow
Southwest Metro Chamber of Commerce  Minnesota!
data
Twin Cities North Chamber of Commerce
Waconia Chamber of Commerce
Waseca Area Chamber of Commerce
White Bear Area Chamber of Commerce Real-time private-sector
Willmar Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce data from the state’s premier
Winona Area Chamber of Commerce business assistance program.
Woodbury Area Chamber of Commerce
Worthington Area Chamber of Commerce

MINNESOTA 2022 BUSINESS BENCHMARKS 17

400 Robert Street North, Suite 1500, St. Paul, MN 55101
651.292.4650 | mnchamber.com