John Roebke helped administer the 2020 Census in Carver County, so naturally, he introduced our speaker. Dr. Susan Brower is the Minnesota State Demographer and directs the MN State Demographic Center. Susan became the State Demographer in February 2012. In that capacity, she travels the state talking with Minnesotans about the new social and economic realities that are brought about by recent demographic shifts. Susan's work applies an understanding of demographic trends to changes in a range of areas including the state's economy and workforce, education, health, immigration, and rural population changes. Susan joined the State Demographic Center after working as a researcher on the Minnesota Compass project at Wilder
Research in St. Paul. Prior to that, she worked at the Population Studies Center at the University of Michigan. Susan earned her Ph.D. in sociology at the University of Michigan, specializing in demography and family sociology. She also holds a master's degree in public policy from Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota.

 

Dr. Brower skillfully presented data about the census results pertinent to Minnesota and often specifically about Chaska. It turns out that our citizens are very cooperative, leading the states by having a 75% response rate. Chaska was even better with a rate of 83%. Minnesota was able to retain the same number of Congressional Representatives with a margin of only 26 people! Carver County had the highest population % growth in the state and the metro area defied the trend
elsewhere by increasing its urban population.

 

Her presentation of racial demographics introduced the acronym BIPOC (black, indigenous, and people of color) which describes 23% of the census responders in Chaska. Susan also discussed the demographics of age and availability to be part of the state’s workforce. When all the baby boomers have retired, there will be even fewer to fill the available jobs.

 

Contact Susan at susan.brower@state.mn.us (preferred) or 651-201-2472.

For information about the census: www.census.gov; about Minnesota Demographics: www.mn.gov/admin/demography.