Black Men Struggle to Find Jobs Amid Recession
Men — and black men in particular — are being disproportionately affected by the economic downturn in the U.S. According to statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor, the unemployment rate for black men is nearly 19 percent, Latino men come in at 12.8 percent and white men at 10.4 percent. The national unemployment rate reached 10 percent in November.
The Economist explores why jobs are more scarce for black men than other groups in a recent article.
There is no shortage of explanations for the gap. States with weaker labor markets, like South Carolina and Michigan, also tend to have larger black populations than low-unemployment states like Iowa and Montana.
Predominantly black neighborhoods are often a long way from where jobs are concentrated, in largely white suburbs, so those without cars cannot get to them.
Networking is another important factor in finding a new job. The Economist points out that black men aren't finding jobs through personal contacts as often as white or Latino men.
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