Black Worker `Not Seasonally Adjusted' Unemployment Rate Increases To 15 Percent In July 2012

The official “not seasonally adjusted” unemployment rate for all Black workers in the United States increased from 14.8 to 15 percent between June and July 2012; while the “not seasonally adjusted” jobless rate for Black male workers over 20 years-of-age jumped from 14 to 14.9 percent during the same period, according to recent Bureau of Labor Statistics data. In addition, the “not seasonally adjusted” unemployment rate for all white workers in the United States increased from 7.5 to 7.6 percent between June and July 2012; while the official “not seasonally adjusted” jobless rate for white female workers over 20 years-of-age jumped from 6.8 to 7.4 percent during the same period.

Between June and July 2012, the total number of officially unemployed Black workers in the United States increased by 19,000 (from 2,780,000 to 2,799,000), according to the “not seasonally adjusted” data; while the total number of unemployed Black male workers over 20 years-of-age in the U.S. labor force increased by 64,000 (from 1,172,000 to 1,236,000) during the same period, according to the “not seasonally adjusted” data. In addition, the total number of jobless white workers in the United States increased by 149,000 (from 9,344,000 to 9,493,000) between June and July 2012, according to the “not seasonally adjusted” data; while the total number of unemployed white female workers over 20 years-of-age increased by 359,000 (from 3,667,000 to 4,026,000) during the same period, according to the “not seasonally adjusted” data.

The official “not seasonally adjusted” jobless rate for Latina female workers over 20 years-of-age increased from 10.3 to 10.5 percent between June and July 2012; and the total number of unemployed Latina female workers over 20 years-of-age increased by 5,000 (from 1,022,000 to 1,027,000) during that same period. The official “not seasonally adjusted” jobless rate for Black female workers over 20 years-of-age was still 12.7 percent in July 2012; while the official “not seasonally adjusted” rate for all female workers over 20 years-of-age in the United States increased from 7.6 to 8.2 percent between June and July 2012.

The official “not seasonally adjusted” unemployment rate for Black youths between 16 and 19 years-of-age was still 38.1 percent in July 2012; while the official “not seasonally adjusted” jobless rate for Latino youths between 16 and 19 years-of-age was still 29.4 percent during that same month.. In addition, the official “not seasonally adjusted” unemployment rate for white youths between 16 and 19 years-of-age in the United States was still 21.7 percent in July 2012; while the official “not seasonally adjusted” jobless rate for all youths between 16 and 19 years-of-age in the United States was still 24.5 percent during that same month.

The official “not seasonally adjusted” unemployment rate for all female workers over 16 years-of-age in the United States (Black, Latino, Asian-American and white) increased from 8.4 to 9 percent between June and July 2012; while the official “not seasonally adjusted” jobless rate for all male workers over 16 years-of-age was in the United States was still 8.2 percent in July 2012.. In addition, the official “not seasonally adjusted” jobless rate for all workers in the United States increased from 8.4 to 8.6 percent between June and July 2012. During the same period, the total “not seasonally adjusted” number of officially unemployed U.S. workers also increased by 216,000 (from 13,184,000 to 13,400,000).

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ August 3, 2012 press release:

“…In July, the number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks and over) was little changed at 5.2 million. These individuals accounted for 40.7 percent of the unemployed…The number of persons employed part time for economic reasons (sometimes referred to as involuntary part-time workers) was essentially unchanged at 8.2 million in July. These individuals were working part time because their hours had been cut back or because they were unable to find a full-time job…

“In July, 2.5 million persons were marginally attached to the labor force…These individuals were not in the labor force, wanted and were available for work, and had looked for a job sometime in the prior 12 months. They were not counted as unemployed because they had not searched for work in the 4 weeks preceding the survey…Among the marginally attached, there were 852,000 discouraged workers in July…Discouraged workers are persons not currently looking for work because they believe no jobs are available for them…

“Utilities employment declined in July (-8,000). The decrease reflects 8,500 utility workers who were off payrolls due to a labor-management dispute.

“Employment in…mining and logging, construction, retail trade, transportation and warehousing, financial activities, and government showed little or no change over the month…”