A networking and hiring event for professionals of color in Minneapolis.
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The latest data released by the Department of Labor shows a significant decline in the unemployment rate for Black Americans in April, deviating from the overall trend. Despite this positive trend, Black Americans still hold the highest jobless percentage in the U.S., with their unemployment rate dropping to 5.6% from 6.4% in March. This stands out when compared to the overall unemployment rate, which increased to 3.9% in April from 3.8%, and the rising rates among other racial demographics.
While White Americans saw a slight increase in their unemployment rate to 3.5% from 3.4%, Asian and Hispanic workers also experienced a rise in their jobless rates to 2.8% from 2.5% and to 4.8% from 4.5% respectively.
Economist Elise Gould from the Economic Policy Institute noted the volatility in the unemployment rate for Black Americans, which had jumped to 6.4% in March from 5.6% in February. However, she highlighted the positive development of the rate coming down in April, emphasizing the importance of monitoring this rate as an indicator of economic health for historically marginalized groups.
Despite a slight decrease in labor force participation rate among Black workers to 63.2% from 63.6%, there was an overall steady rate of 62.7% among the total workforce. Additionally, Asian and Hispanic workers saw an increase in their labor force participation rates in April.
Gould also pointed out a promising trend in the rise of employment rates for “prime age workers,” ages 25 to 54, in April.
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