Overall U.S. unemployment is 9.1 percent. For white adults, it's 8 percent, and for white teens, 23 percent. Black adult unemployment stands at 17 percent, and for black teens, it's 40 percent, more than 50 percent in some cities, for example, Washington.
Chapter 3 of "Race and Economics," my most recent book, starts out, "Some might find it puzzling that during times of gross racial discrimination, black unemployment was lower and blacks were more active in the labor force than they are today." Up until the late 1950s, the labor force participation rate of black teens and adults was equal to or greater than their white counterparts. In fact, in 1910, 71 percent of black males older than 9 were employed, compared with 51 percent for whites. As early as 1890, the duration of unemployment among blacks was shorter than it was among whites, whereas today unemployment is both higher and longer-lasting among blacks than among whites.
How might one explain yesteryear's lower black unemployment and greater labor force participation? The usual academic, civil rights or media racial discrimination explanation for black/white socio-economic differences just wouldn't hold up. I can't imagine even the most harebrained professor, civil rights leader or media "expert" arguing that there was less discrimination a century ago and that explains why there was greater black labor market participation. Racial discrimination or low skills can explain low wages but not unemployment.
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6 comments:
He forgot to mention that now days they're lazy, stupid and don't give a crap, they just want government handouts, cus "they diserve it, you made my grandfather a slave"
why does anyone even bring up "teen unemployment"? They are inexperienced and unskilled. Duh, there are enough adults in the same category looking for work as is. Kids need to be in school/training, not in the work force.
it is really a non issue everyone knows there are more whites on welfare food stamps and making fraudulent disability claims
its simple there are more whites
what never comes up though is that all these people white and black are of them same CLASS
its funny how the race issue gets played but we never talk about classism in america
I imagine neither race would be too happy being lumped in with the other were such matters are concerned
and its classist to even mention it I suppose
Pretty simple; when no one is giving you anything you work hard to satisfy an employer, get a job, get a paycheck. Big brother steps in saying a person or a class deserves a job, the willingness turns to a feeling of entitlement; the job and paycheck for someone so "entitled" is there - when there is no one willing to work hard. As long as a person is willing to work hard that person will find a job. Whenever someone feels they are "entitled" to a job, a particular wage, specific benefits, hours, or working conditions they will find their entitlement - unless there is someone willing to work hard for less or harder for the same. Then the entitled is left out.
Unions flourish in good times, but when times get tight they become ineffective in winning "entitled" wages, benefits and contract terms. Same with blacks, women, and minorities of any nature that feel "entitled".
In order to be counted as "unemployed" (a dubious term) one must have first had a job for a year or so, then gotten laid off within the last year and a half.
That is who is in these statistics, all others are excluded.
6:42, so the people that have been out of work for two years, that you see on the news all the time, are no longer considered unemployed? I'm only questioning your statement because it doesn't make sense that they wouldn't be counted.
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