African America’s December Jobs Report – 7.8%

Overall Unemployment: 4.7% (4.6%)

African America Unemployment: 7.8% (8.0%)

Latino America Unemployment: 5.9% (5.7%)

European America Unemployment: 4.3% (4.2%)

Asian America Unemployment: 2.6% (3.0%)

Previous month in parentheses.

Analysis: Overall unemployment rose 10 basis points to its lowest since August 2007. African and Asian America saw a decline in their unemployment rate, 20 and 40 basis points, respectively. European and Latino America saw increases of 10 and 20 basis points, respectively.

African American Male Unemployment: 7.6% (7.7%)

African American Female Unemployment: 6.8% (7.1%)

African American Teenage Unemployment: 25.7% (26.6%)

African American Male Participation: 67.7% (67.5%)

African American Female Participation: 62.3% (62.6%)

African American Teenage Participation: 27.6% (27.9%)

Analysis: African American men saw a 10 basis point decrease in their unemployment and 20 basis point increase in their participation rate. African American women saw a 30 basis point decrease in their unemployment rate and 30 basis point decrease in their participation rate. African American teenagers saw a 90 basis point decrease in their unemployment rate and a 30 basis point decrease in their participation rate.

CONCLUSION: The overall economy added 156 000 jobs in December. A noticeable difference from the 178 000 in November. African America added a marginal 30 000 jobs in December to end the year. The last jobs report of the Obama Administration shows an African America with some of its strongest employment numbers overall. However, African American teenagers continue to be a flash point of crisis and the African American participation rate remains 100 basis points below Asians and European America. A notable problem given the median income for African American being the lowest of all groups. Wages seem to be heating up across the board, which is a much needed sign for African America.

African America currently needs 619 000 jobs to match America’s unemployment rate. An increase of 114 000 jobs from November.