NAACP Response to November Unemployment Numbers

The Bureau of Labor Statistics released the monthly employment situation report for the month of November.  Though the total nonfarm payroll employment increased by a strong gain of 321,000 jobs, it did not make an impact on the unemployment rate.  The main unemployment rate remained at 5.8% with little change in racial/ethnic unemployment, whites at 4.9%, blacks at 11.1%, Latinos at 6.6%, and Asians at 4.8%.

The strong gains in terms of job numbers obscure a different story in wages and income inequality. Overall hourly wages were $24.66, or just 0.4% more than one year ago (adjusted for inflation). More problematic is that for non-supervisors in retail work, where some of the strongest gains in jobs were and where African Americans and Latinos tend to cluster, wages were stagnant at $14.49.  For professional and business workers, another area where minority workers represent a large percentage of the employed, wages have actually declined by 0.1% since last year.  Meanwhile, the public sector workforce, long a path to the middle class for minorities, saw cuts to educators yet again.
These are not wages which allow workers to raise a family.

The NAACP continues to voice strong support for living wage efforts and the right of workers to bargain collectively for wages and benefits. The NAACP also supports job creation efforts in high unemployment areas.

From Cornell William Brooks, NAACP President & CEO:
“U.S. income inequality has been increasing steadily since the 1970s, now reaching levels not seen since 1928 and the trend shows no sign of reversing.  Such a high level of inequality has both societal and economic consequences, in particular limiting the economic mobility of many Americans including many black and brown Americans. As we turn the corner on a new year, let us commit to building an inclusive economy that works for everyone not just the ones at the top.”

From Dedrick Muhammad, Sr. Director of NAACP Economic Department:
“Inequality in wages and income are undermining our country’s ability have long term and sustainable economic growth. Our businesses need consumers earning sufficient wages so that they can flourish and our families need higher wages so that wealth can be built for future generations. We need full employment and living wages as that is the only path towards economic stability for all Americans.”