NAACP and Congressional Black Caucus Respond to June Unemployment Numbers

Job Recovery Maintains Racial Employment Disparities

Washington, DC – The NAACP has released the following statement in response to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) June employment report which indicates that for the month of June, the national unemployment rate decreased to 6.1 percent.  The unemployment rate for Asians was 5.3%; for whites, 5.3%; Latinos, 7.8% and African Americans, 10.9%. No data was released on American Indians.

From Dedrick Asante-Muhammad, Sr. Director of NAACP Economic Department:

“The 288,000 jobs added this month indicates that the economy overall is beginning to recover. However, black unemployment continues to improve at a much slower pace as public-sector employment lags, in large part due to austerity budgeting. Public workers are a key element of the middle class economy. With the public sector paying more equitably — particularly for workers of color and women– compared to the private sector, and providing benefits necessary for a family’s financial security, this sector must be strengthened to increase job opportunities with higher wages for more Americans.”

(Graph: NAACP)

Note:  The NAACP Economic Department was relaunched in 2011 and currently has four program areas: Fair Lending, Economic Education, Opportunity and Diversity, and Community Economic Development.  The NAACP Economic Department is dedicated to ensuring that “every person will have equal opportunity to achieve economic success, sustainability, and financial security”. Learn more about the NAACP Economic work here.

CBC Chair Marcia L. Fudge’s Statement on the June Jobs Report

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Chair Marcia L. Fudge released the following statement on the June jobs report:

“Today’s jobs report shows significant improvement in our nation’s unemployment rate. The national unemployment rate fell to 6.1 percent, and unemployment in the African-American community dropped to 10.7 percent, both being the lowest rates since September 2008.  While these numbers are promising, there is still much work to be done to ensure unemployment remains on this downward slope and that the short and long-term unemployed continue to have the support they need.

“The CBC continues working to support and improve both education and employment opportunities that equip people of color and those from low-income communities with the skills needed to compete in today’s job market. Through strong job training programs and by solidifying a pipeline for employers to access the talent in our communities, individuals acquire a broader skill set that also increases the pool of qualified applicants for available opportunities. The CBC also remains committed to ensuring the decreasing employment rate reflects a diversity of workers in jobs with incomes that allow them to provide for their families. The benefits of a strengthening economy should be felt by all Americans. No one should be left behind.”