Overall Unemployment: 5.9% (6.1%)
African America Unemployment: 11.0% (11.4%)
Latino America Unemployment: 6.9% (7.5%)
European America Unemployment: 5.1% (5.3%)
Asian America Unemployment: 4.3% (4.5%)
Previous month in parentheses.
Analysis: The overall unemployment rate dropped 20 basis points. All four groups saw declines in their unemployment rates. Latino America led the way with the largest decline of 60 basis points. African America continues to be the only group that remains with a double digit unemployment rate.
African American Male Unemployment: 11.0% (10.8%)
African American Female Unemployment: 9.6% (10.6%)
African American Teenage Unemployment: 30.5% (32.8%)
African American Male Participation: 68.5% (67.3%)
African American Female Participation: 61.4% (61.5%)
African American Teenage Participation: 28.6% (25.9%)
Previous month in parentheses.
Analysis: African American males saw their unemployment rate raise 20 basis points and their participation rate climb 120 basis points. African American females saw their unemployment rate drop 100 basis points and their participation rate drop 10 basis points. African American teenagers unemployment rate dropped 230 basis points and their participation rates climbed 270 basis points.
CONCLUSION: The overall economy added 248 000 jobs in September. Considered a healthy bounce back after a disappointing August. For the first time in a significant period, African America’s job growth actually outpaced the country adding 288 000 jobs in September. Over the past five months job growth for African America has grown 2.5 percent which outpaces both Latino and European America. The African American teenagers were the run away winners of the September boom with a significant increase and decrease in participation and unemployment rate, respectively. A group that remains in an employment crisis, but has its largest number of employed in the past five months. A significant impact for African American families who are often dependent on teenager wages. If African America can hold its current labor force and add 210 000 jobs in the month of October, then it will actually break the elusive almost unicorn-like single digit unemployment rate that continues to elude African America.
HBCU Money 