STIMULUS FAILED MINORITIES
COLUMBUS, OH - Blacks and Latinos are continuing to face significantly higher unemployment rates than Whites, while unemployment rates for each of these groups held relatively steady. The five-month trend shows Black unemployment consistently exceeded White unemployment by six percent, and Latino unemployment exceeded White unemployment by two to three percent.
While October non-farm employment increased by 151,000 jobs, the overall unemployment rate was unchanged for the third month in a row, at 9.6 percent. Unemployment rates for both Blacks and Latinos decreased in October by a fraction of a percentage point. Over the past year (October 2009 – October 2010) Black unemployment has risen by 2.2 percent, while Latino and White unemployment have fallen by 2.5 and 7.4 percent, respectively.
Overall, Black-owned businesses have received a proportinately lower number and dollar value of federal stimulus contracts when compared with other businesses.
The Race-Recovery Index tracks how the federal stimulus and economic recovery are impacting communities most in need. It is produced by the Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity, a center for interdisciplinary research at The Ohio State University. The Kirwan Institute partners with people, communities, and institutions worldwide to think about, talk about, and act on race in ways that create and expand opportunity for all.
