Economic Indicators
Demo DataIncome, employment, entrepreneurship, and financial stability for Lao Minnesotans. The “model minority” myth, driven by aggregated Asian American data, obscures substantial economic hardship: median household income is barely half the state average, and poverty rates are double.
$42,500
Median Income
vs $78,000 state
18.5%
Poverty Rate
2.1x state avg
68%
Employment Rate
vs 78% state
3.2%
Business Ownership
vs 10% state
Source: Census ACS 2020-2024, BLS Current Population Survey
Economic Indicators Comparison
The aggregated “Asian” category ($95K median income) masks the reality for Lao Americans ($42.5K), creating a statistical illusion that diverts resources from communities that need them most.
Source: Census ACS 2020-2024, BLS Current Population Survey · Lao Community Data Portal
Household Income Distribution
Share of households by income bracket
Source: Census ACS 2020-2024, IPUMS
Median Income Trend ($K)
2018–2025
Source: Census ACS 2018-2024, BLS
Lao Employment by Sector
Lao workers are heavily concentrated in manufacturing (28%) and service industries (24%), with very low self-employment rates (5%) — reflecting limited access to capital and business networks.
Source: Census ACS 2020-2024, BLS Occupational Statistics
Detailed Economic Comparison
| Indicator | Lao | State Avg | National | Asian Agg. | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median Income ($K) | 42.5 | 78 | 70.8 | 95 | -35.5 |
| Poverty Rate | 18.5 | 9 | 11.5 | 12 | +9.5 |
| Employment Rate | 68 | 78 | 76 | 74 | -10.0 |
| Business Ownership | 3.2 | 10 | 9.5 | 12 | -6.8 |
| Public Assistance | 22 | 6.5 | 7 | 8 | +15.5 |
| Unbanked | 15 | 3.5 | 4.5 | 5 | +11.5 |
| Food Insecurity | 16 | 8 | 10.5 | 7 | +8.0 |
Source: Census ACS 2020-2024, BLS, Community Survey 2025 · Lao Community Data Portal