African America’s May Unemployment Report – 13.5%

Overall Unemployment: 7.6% (7.5%)

African America Unemployment: 13.5% (13.2%)

Latino America Unemployment: 9.1% (9.0%)

European America Unemployment: 6.7% (6.7%)

Asian America Unemployment: 4.3% (5.1%)

Analysis: Overall unemployment saw a rise primarily due to a rise in the number of people entering the labor force. African America saw the largest rise in unemployment rate among all groups. Latino and European America experienced virtually no change. Asian America was the only group with a significant drop in its unemployment rate. African America remains the only group with double digit unemployment.

African American Male Unemployment: 13.5% (12.6%)

African American Female Unemployment: 11.2% (11.6%)

African American Teenage Unemployment: 42.6% (40.5%)

African American Male Participation: 67.9% (67.4%)

African American Female Participation: 62.5% (62.3%)

African American Teenage Participation: 28.0% (27.5%)

*Previous month in parentheses.

Analysis: African American male unemployment saw a sharp uptick. African American women saw another healthy decline in their unemployment rate. The teenage group continues to see significant rises in unemployment. All three groups saw a rise in their participation rates suggesting more African Americans looking for work in the month of May.

Conclusion: The overall economy added 175 000 in the month of May. African America after adding 100 000 jobs last month in April only added an estimated 35 000 jobs in May. There just does not seem to be much to enjoy right now if you are African America still trying to recover from over 5 years ago now. Job growth in the private sector for African America is moving at a snail pace if it is moving at all. The continued crisis that is African American teenage unemployment continues unabated. Civilian labor force (those looking for work) has picked up for a second straight month but it is fairly apparent there are not many places for them to go. African American men have lost 70 000 jobs over the past two months. Thankfully, African American women have netted 260 000 jobs over that same two month stretch. Given the latter group is more vital to African American households economically speaking they are once again carrying the majority of the household burden. African American teenagers have lost 60 000 jobs over the past two months as well. It appears while more African Americans are looking for jobs it might be more a result of the continuing job loss for African America not job gains that is spurring them to do so.