Attention

The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not represent our advertisers

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

Black Unemployment Challenges States

Job seekers listen to a recruiter at a jobs fair in Chicago last year. The unemployment rate for African-Americans has declined this year, but it still remains twice that of whites. (Getty Images)

Technically, the Great Recession ended six years ago. But while employment recovery from the recession has been slow for all Americans, among African-Americans, it has been doubly so.

In April, the unemployment rate for African-Americans dropped below 10 percent for the first time since early in the recession to 9.6 percent. It edged up a bit in May to 10.2 percent. Still, that’s far below its peak of 16.8 percent in the aftermath of the housing bust in March 2010.

Despite this improvement, the black unemployment rate remains double that of non-Hispanic whites—a pattern that has held firm since 1960, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

In some states, it’s far worse than the national rate. The 2014 black unemployment rates in Wisconsin, Nevada and Michigan were 19.9 percent, 16.1 percent and 15.8 percent respectively, according to the Economic Policy Institute (EPI). In the District of Columbia, the black unemployment rate is more than five times that of whites.
Why is the unemployment rate so intractable in the African-American community?

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Most of the problem here is they don't want to work a legal job! They're content to draw unemployment, food stamps, and welfare while doing their deals under the table for cash!!

Anonymous said...

If you have a criminal record, its difficult to get hired whatever race you are. Since there is a high incarceration rate in the black community, employers are hesitant to hire criminals. Employers also will not put up with a bad attitude or work ethic. This seems to be a problem in the black community. I believe a lot of this is has to do with values and family upbringing.

Anonymous said...

WHO determined that the recession ended? Is this the same government that said the war was over in IRAQ?? Is this the same government that said Americans were NOT being spied upon?? Is this Obama's government??

Anonymous said...

Why is the unemployment rate so intractable in the African-American community?

...job cuts in the public sector (jobs that are funded by unsustainable levels of tax money and are often unnecessary)...

...decline of the manufacturing industry (because of high tax burdens and excessive regulations)...

...wage stagnation (greatly inflamed by excessive levels of immigration)..

...discrimination (maybe some)...

..."Mass incarceration" in the black community (a fraudulent term used to blame the system for bad personal choices and their consequences)...

OK. So where do these problems come from?


Anonymous said...

Just look at the incompetence of the mosby girl in Baltimore! You get what you get when you push to fill job positions.

Anonymous said...

They come from 'progressive' democrat policies, 9:43.