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Latinos Outpace Blacks in the Recent Jobs Report

By Lawrence Watkins on May 10th 2010 2:59PM
Filed under: Personal Finance, Careers, News, The Economy

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In the most recent jobs report released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Hispanic Americans were found to be doing far better than African Americans when it comes to finding jobs in the economic downturn. Overall, unemployment for Hispanics was 12.5 percent, while unemployment for African Americans remained at 16.5 percent. Both of these numbers do not compare favorably to white unemployment, which is at 9 percent.

Differences between African Americans and Hispanics were also present for women and men when separated into different groups based on gender and age. Hispanic men had an unemployment rate of 11.2 percent, while black men saw their unemployment rate remain the highest of all demographics, at 18 percent. Hispanic women did better than African American women, with an unemployment rate of 11.1 percent, lower than the 13.7 percent rate for African American women. White women did better than any other demographic, maintaining an unemployment rate of 7.4 percent.


The differentials for black and Hispanic teens were similar to those for adults. Hispanic teenagers have an unemployment rate of 29.2 percent, which is a drop from last month's rate of 30.1 percent. Black teens face an unemployment rate of 37.3 percent, a reduction from the prior month's rate of 41.1 percent.

The inequality in unemployment rates between African Americans and Hispanics is a source of political frustration for both groups. It can be difficult to form lasting political coalitions between groups that are fighting for the same resources. Many members of the African American community, for example, are disinterested in fighting against the immigration reform law in Arizona, in part because they feel that they've lost jobs to the Hispanic community. It may not help them to stay silent on this law, since the president has stated that it could lead to racial profiling all across the nation.

A better solution might be for both groups to work together to fight for stronger labor rights. American corporations have long benefited from illegal immigration and globalization. These benefits have not always transferred to the American worker; these practices have kept wages flat for a long period of time. President Obama has committed himself to dealing with comprehensive immigration reform and may also be able to forge strong black and brown coalitions by pursuing an aggressive labor rights agenda. In that scenario, all communities will benefit, even white Americans.

Lawrence Watkins is the CEO of the Great Gospel Speakers Bureau. For more information, please visit LawrenceWatkins.com.

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