Black unemployment down but still higher than other groups

By Frederick H. Lowe Special to the Trice Edney Newswire from TheNorthStarNews.com The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in July improved for African Americans, but joblessness among Blacks is still double or higher compared to other ethnic and racial groups. The nation’s businesses added 162,000 jobs in July compared to 188,000 jobs in June, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Aug. 2. BLS Commissioner Erica L. Grosher said employment rose in retail trade, food services, financial activities and wholesale trade.  The unemployment rate dropped to 7.4 percent, down from 8.2 percent a year ago. The overall  unemployment rate for African Americans in July was 12.6 percent, down from 13.7 percent in June. The jobless rate for Black men 20 years old and older in July was 12.5 percent, compared to 13 percent in June. Black women 20 years old and older fared better. In July, their unemployment rate was 10.5 percent, compared to 12 percent in June. Despite the improvement, the joblessness in the African American community is double that of whites. The overall white jobless rate in July was 6.6 percent, the same as in June. White men 20 years old and older reported a July unemployment rate of 6.3 percent, up from 6.2 percent in June. White women 20 years old and older reported a July unemployment rate of 5.8 percent, down from 6 percent in June. July’s jobless rate for Latinos was 9.4 percent, up from 9.1 percent in June. The unemployment rate in July for Asians was 5.7 percent, up from 5 percent in June.