Blacks Hit Hard By Unemployment In Alabama – Job Creation Needed Now

September 20th, 2009

Blacks Hit Hard By Unemployment In Alabama - Job Creation Needed Now

In Alabama the rate of unemployment for blacks has risen disproportionately during the recession of 2008/2009.

The Montgomery Advertiser has reported that black workers are twice as likely to be unemployed than white workers in Alabama. This disparity in unemployment has worsened since President Obama took office in January of 2009. In the 6^th District of Alabama there was a 9.3 percentage point difference between the unemployment rate for blacks and whites, compared to 1.6 percent in the last quarter of 2007.

Unemployment trends have not been concentrated in any one sector of the economy. Manufacturing, wholesale/retail trade, transportation, utilities, finance, insurance, and real estate have all experienced greater than average unemployment rates for black workers. White unemployment rates are climbing in each area as well.

If elected to Congress in June of 2010, I would begin the work of a concerted effort between public and private forces to create a “District 6 Economic Development Board” that would have as its primary mission the creation of manufacturing and production jobs within the 7 County area of the District. Real jobs are needed to stabilize Alabama’s economy, to decrease the poverty level and to provide every person of every race a real opportunity to pursue the American Dream.

Bureau of Labor Statistics

Report - Sept. 4, 2009

Qtr/Month | I | II | June | July | Aug.

| 2009 | 2009 | 2009 | 2009 | 2009

Unemployment rates

All workers | 8.1| 9.2| 9.5| 9.4| 9.7|

Adult men | 8.2| 9.7| 10.0| 9.8| 10.1|

Adult women | 6.7| 7.4| 7.6| 7.5| 7.6|

Teenagers | 21.3| 22.7| 24.0| 23.8| 25.5|

White | 7.4| 8.4| 8.7| 8.6| 8.9|

Black | 13.1| 14.9| 14.7| 14.5| 15.1|

Hispanic | 10.7| 12.0| 12.2| 12.3| 13.0|

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