Black workers consistently have higher unemployment rates than whites, but the dispersion is even worse for America's youth. Nearly one in four black 16- to 24-year-olds was out of work in November, compared to only about one in ten white workers in the same age group.
The situation is actually getting worse for 25- to 34-year-olds. Black workers in that age group actually suffer a worse unemployment rate than they did a year ago. New data released today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that in November 2013 black workers aged 25 to 34 had an unemployment rate of 13.6 percent. In November 2012, the rate was 12.7 percent. This is more than double the rate of white workers in the same age group who face a 5.9 percent unemployment rate.
The fact that the nation's black young adults are worse off than they were a year ago should be a serious concern for our nation's leaders. The recovery is slow enough as it is, but the widening the racial gap among young people makes this issue even more urgent to address.
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages.