HBCU Money

Overall Unemployment: 5.4% (5.5%)

African America Unemployment: 9.6% (10.1%)

Latino America Unemployment: 6.9% (6.8%)

European America Unemployment: 4.7% (4.7%)

Asian America Unemployment: 4.4% (3.2%)

Previous month in parentheses.

Analysis: Overall the unemployment rate dropped by 10 basis points. Asian America saw a significant rise of 120 basis points. Latino America saw a negligible rise of 10 basis points, while European America went unchanged. African American was the only group with a decline which constituted a 50 basis point drop.

African American Male Unemployment: 9.2% (10.0%)

African American Female Unemployment: 8.8% (9.2%)

African American Teenage Unemployment: 27.5% (25.0%)

African American Male Participation: 68.7% (67.2%)

African American Female Participation: 61.9% (61.4%)

African American Teenage Participation: 27.2% (25.7%)

Previous month in parentheses.

Analysis: African American males saw a 80 basis point drop in their unemployment rate and 150 basis point increase in their participation rate. African American females saw a 40 basis point drop in their unemployment rate and a 50 basis point increase in their participation rate. African American teenagers saw a 250 basis point increase in their unemployment rate and 150 basis point increase in their participation rate.

CONCLUSION: The overall economy added 223 000 jobs in April. African America added 400 000 jobs in April. The largest job increase since HBCU Money started tracking the data. Wages also saw an important uptick of 2.2 percent. The wage increase is expected to continue if the labor supply continues to shrink forcing companies and organizations into competition over limited labor supply. What remains uncertain is what drove such an outsized employment increase after an abysmal 7 000 jobs added the month before. If nothing it continues to show that African America’s employment condition will continue on a roller coaster of a ride.