Unemployment News: Just How Bad Have Black, Latinos Been Hit By Recession?

This probably doesn’t come by much surprise, but Blacks and Latinos are being hit the hardest by the crumbling economy when it comes to losing their jobs. Interestingly enough, the reason why has a lot to do with the concentration of Blacks and Latinos in blue-collar or service-industry type jobs, which have lost more personnel than those in corporate America, according to the Associated Press. Since the recession began in December 2008, Blacks’ unemployment has risen to 13.5 percent compared to White unemployment rates, which have risen to 7.3 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Since Blacks also don’t have the same security in the professional world or for the most part inherit our positions like Whites, we become most vulnerable when it’s time for cuts.—WLW