Black unemployment: Highest in 27 years

[progressoid]

Source: CNN

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- The August jobs report was dismal for plenty of reasons, but perhaps most striking was the picture it painted of racial inequality in the job market.

Black unemployment surged to 16.7% in August, its highest level since 1984, while the unemployment rate for whites fell slightly to 8%, the Labor Department reported.

"This month's numbers continue to bear out that longstanding pattern that minorities have a much more challenging time getting jobs," said Bill Rodgers, chief economist with the Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers University.

Black unemployment has been roughly double that of whites since the government started tracking the figures in 1972.

...

Read more: http://money.cnn.com/2011/09/02/news/economy/black_unemployment_rate/

[Freddie Stubbs]

1. Black unemployment: Highest in 27 years

Source: CNNMoney

The August jobs report was dismal for plenty of reasons, but perhaps most striking was the picture it painted of racial inequality in the job market.

Black unemployment surged to 16.7% in August, its highest level since 1984, while the unemployment rate for whites fell slightly to 8%, the Labor Department reported.

"This month's numbers continue to bear out that longstanding pattern that minorities have a much more challenging time getting jobs," said Bill Rodgers, chief economist with the Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers University.

Black unemployment has been roughly double that of whites since the government started tracking the figures in 1972.

Read more: http://money.cnn.com/2011/09/02/news/economy/black_unemployment_rate/

[n2doc]

2. yep.

[No Elephants]

3. "Black unemployment?" Something about that sounds disrespectful.

[NOMOREDRUGWAR]

6. What is disrespectful about it?

How is it any different than 18-24 unemployment or white unemployment or female unemployment? I'd think the bigger concern would be the high rate of black unemployment and what to do about it, and not the term used to refer to it.

[jwirr]

4. I cannot remember a time when unemployment in this group was not

higher than for others but this is ridiculous.

[RaleighNCDUer]

5. If it is overall 16%, I guarantee you there are pockets of 50%+

all around the country.

[EFerrari]

7. You know it. Youth unemployment is horrible, too.

I read one poll that says 1 in 4.