Friday, March 29, 2024

U.S. employment rate for black men at lowest level…

May 11, 2011 by  
Filed under News, Opinion, Weekly Columns

Like
Like Love Haha Wow Sad Angry

(ThyBlackMan.com) According to the latest U.S. monthly job report, the percentage of employed African-American men fell to its lowest level since records began in 1972. The figure belie expectations that the election of the first African-American in the White House could boost the blacks chances of getting jobs.

The Labor Department’s April report showed that the percentage of black   men over 20 with jobs fell to 56.9 despite a better-than-expected economic growth which generated an additional 244,000 new jobs.

Their white counterparts enjoy a significant chance at 68.1 percent rate of employment.

Ironically, the number of black adult men with job never fell below 60 percent even at the height of the global financial crisis in 2007-2008.

Statistics from the Labor Department showed that the drop in employment rate only affects black men. Across the board, the number of African-Americans with jobs is 51.5 percent compared to 59.5 percent of whites.

Heather Boushey, an economist with the liberal Center for American Progress, said that the scenario is not confined to African-American as other sectors are also finding it difficult to look for jobs, including ex-offenders and those without a college degree.

Anyone who would be last on an employer’s list to get a job is really in bad shape” in the current downturn, Boushey said.

Current trends of hiring by employers are also affecting the hiring process. The practice of online job listings which specifically prohibits unemployed from applying is believed to have worsened the problem. The federal government suspects that the practice illegally discriminate against African-Americans as most of the unemployed are blacks.

Written By Alyangka Francheska

Official website; http://au.ibtimes.com/


Speak Your Mind

Tell us what you're thinking...
and oh, if you want a pic to show with your comment, go get a gravatar!