Which of the thousands of charts on Minnesota Compass did users visit most in 2025? We crunched the numbers to bring you our greatest hits. Over the next several weeks, Wilder Research staff will break down our most popular bar charts, trend lines, maps, rankings, and tables—covering immigration, the workforce, and more—to reveal why these visuals are so important. Will your favorite chart make the list?
Ranking charts: Compass users interested in most common immigrant origins, largest STEM occupations
The past year’s most popular ranking charts on Compass show our users’ interest in immigration and STEM employment, today and in the future. Three ranking charts – foreign-born population by birthplace, projected growth in STEM production and trade occupations, and STEM employment in health occupations – topped the list of most popular ranking charts on Minnesota Compass in 2025. Let’s take a closer look:
Minnesota’s largest immigrant communities were born in Mexico, Somalia, and India.
In 2019-2023, Mexico was the largest country of origin among Minnesota’s immigrants, followed by Somalia, India, and other large groups from East Africa, Southeast Asia, and East Asia. These communities reflect Minnesota’s long history as a destination for refugees, workers, and students from around the world. As one of the most viewed ranking charts on our website, it offers a clear snapshot of the largest origins of Minnesota’s foreign-born population.
Jobs are expected to grow in STEM production and trade occupations.
The second most popular ranking chart this past year indicates that Compass users also want to know about Minnesota’s STEM-related production and trade jobs. The data predicts a need for skilled labor across infrastructure and manufacturing sectors. Between 2018 and 2028, the largest projected increases in STEM production and trade jobs are predicted to be among plumbers, electricians, and general maintenance workers, along with steady growth in other technical trades such as machinists, HVAC technicians, and welders. While some specialized roles grow more slowly, they remain vital for maintaining productivity and replacing retiring workers. This ranking chart is among the most viewed on our website because it points to a future STEM workforce in Minnesota that depends not only on advanced degrees, but also on strong technical and vocational training pathways to keep Minnesota’s infrastructure, energy, and manufacturing systems running.
Nurses form the backbone of Minnesota’s healthcare delivery system.
Rounding out the most popular ranking charts across Compass, healthcare occupations are of interest to Compass users as well. This chart shows that, in 2023, registered nurses represented the largest share of healthcare workers in Minnesota, with nearly 65,000 positions – over five times more jobs than the next largest group, licensed practical and vocational nurses. Other roles such as nurse practitioners, pharmacy technicians, and physicians follow at much lower counts, highlighting the central role of nursing in the healthcare system. There are smaller employment numbers in advanced practice or specialized fields, such as nursing anesthetists and family medicine physicians. Altogether, the data suggest a strong demand for nursing professionals, especially frontline nursing staff, to deliver essential patient care – and a potential opportunity to strengthen recruitment and retention in other essential but smaller occupations.
Interpreting the story behind these rankings.
Together, these ranking charts tell an integrated story of Minnesota’s workforce, infrastructure, and communities – the people who call the state home, the technical pathways that keep its economy running, and the essential healthcare systems that serve its diverse populations. Minnesota has long been a welcoming destination for refugees, workers, and students. Over decades, this flow of diverse human capital has enriched the state’s workforce, contributing directly to its strength in STEM production and trade occupations. The strong demand for high-quality nursing further highlights a critical and persistent need for frontline care – needs that are often met by professionals from diverse communities.
