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Racial inequalities persist in U.S. unemployment numbers
Dawn Ouellette Nixon//May 12, 2021
Racial inequities in the unemployment count persist, according to the United States Department of Labor’s April Jobs Report.
The unemployment rate for African Americans increased slightly to 9.7 % in the month of March, while the Hispanic rate was unchanged at 7.9%.
The unemployment rate among Asian workers declined to 5.7%, and the rate for whites fell to 5.3%.
The overall unemployment rate increased marginally to 6.1% compared to 6% in March, the DOL reports.
Signs of an economic recovery on the horizon include the 266,000 jobs that were added to the American economy last month, according to the DOL. Also, the number of people expressing hesitancy about returning to work due to the coronavirus was at its lowest point in the pandemic started.
While the numbers are encouraging, the nation has a “steep climb ahead of us,” said Labor Secretary Marty Walsh. “It’s going to take time and effort to heal this economy.”
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