Black Male Jobless Rate: 15.8% In January

by Dollars and Sense

As bad as the general official unemployment numbers are, the real jobless rate for Black males appears to have no bottom. From Bob Feldman.

The official "not-seasonally adjusted" unemployment rate for Black male workers in the United States jumped from 13.8 percent to 15.8 percent between December 2008 and January 2009, while the "seasonally adjusted" unemployment rate for Black male workers increased to 14.1 percent, according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data. The "not-seasonally adjusted" jobless rate for all Black workers increased from 11.7 percent to 13.4 percent during this same period, while the "seasonally adjusted" jobless rate for all Black workers increased to 12.6 percent.

For all U.S. workers, the "not-seasonally adjusted" jobless rate jumped from 7.1 percent to 8.5 percent between December 2008 and January 2009, while the "seasonally adjusted" jobless rate for all U.S. workers increased to 7.6 percent. The "not-seasonally adjusted" unemployment rate for white male workers also increased from 6.8 percent to 8.3 percent between December 2008 and January 2009.

Between December 2008 and January 2009, the "seasonally adjusted" jobless rate for Black youth between 16 and 19 years-of-age increased from 33.7 percent to 36.5 percent, while the "seasonally adjusted" jobless rate for white youth between 16 and 19 years-of-age was 18.4 percent.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' February 6, 2009 press release:

"In January, job losses were large and widespread across nearly all major industry sectors." ...

"Both the number of unemployed persons (11.6 million) and the unemployment rate (7.6 percent) rose in January." ...

"The civilian labor force participation rate, at 65.5 percent in January, has edged down in recent months." ...

"Total nonfarm payroll employment fell sharply (-598,000) in January...In January employment declined in nearly all major industries." ...

"Manufacturing employment fell by 207,000 in January, the largest 1-month decline since October 1982. In January, durable goods manufacturing lost 157,000 jobs, with notable decreases in fabricated metal products (-37,000), motor vehicles and parts (-31,000), and machinery (-22,000). Employment in nondurable goods manufacturing declined by 50,000 over the month." ...

"Construction lost 111,000 jobs in January... Employment fell across most component industries over the month." ...

"The temporary help industry lost 76,000 jobs in January... Professional and technical services lost 29,000 jobs in January." ...

"Retail trade employment fell by 45,000 in January... In January, employment declined in automobile dealerships (-14,000), building material and garden supply stores (-10,000), department stores (-9,000), and furniture and home furnishing stores (-7,000). Over the month, wholesale trade employment fell by 31,000." ...

"Transportation and warehousing lost 44,000 jobs in January...In January, employment fell in truck transportation (-25,000), support activities for transportation (-9,000), and couriers and messengers (-4,000)." ...

"Employment in financial activities declined by 42,000 over the month...In January, job losses occurred in securities, commodity contracts, and investments (-15,000) and in credit intermediation (-10,000)"
--b.f.

Labels: Black jobless rate, Bob Feldman, Bureau of Labor Statistics, unemployment

 

Please consider donating to Dollars & Sense and/or subscribing to the magazine (both print and e-subscriptions now available!).
2/06/2009 04:49:00 PM