Black Youth `Seasonally Adjusted' Unemployment Rate Increases To 30.1 Percent In May 2015

Between April and May 2015, the official “seasonally adjusted” unemployment rate for Black youths between 16 and 19 years-of-age in the United States increased from 27.5 to 30.1 percent; while the number of unemployed Black youths increased by 28,000 (from 187,000 to 215,000) during the same period, according to the “seasonally adjusted” Bureau of Labor Statistics data.  

The official “seasonally adjusted” jobless rate for Latino youths between 16 and 19 years-of-age in the United States also increased from 18.9 to 19.2 percent between April and May 2015; while the number of Latino youths between 16 and 19 years-of-age in the U.S. labor force decreased by 24,000 (from 1,157,000 to 1,133,000 ) during the same period, according to the “seasonally adjusted” data. In addition, the “seasonally adjusted” number of Latino youths who still had jobs decreased by 22,000 (from 938,000 to 916,000) between April and May 2015.

The official “seasonally adjusted” unemployment rate for white youths between 16 and 19 years-of-age increased from 14.5 to 15.5 percent between April and May 2015; while the number of unemployed white youths between 16 and 19 years-of-age in the United States increased by 54,000 (from 660,000 to 714,000) during the same period, according to the “seasonally adjusted” data..

The official “seasonally adjusted” jobless rate for all youths (Black, Latino, white and Asian-American) between 16 and 19 years-of-age in the United States increased from 17.1 to 17.9 percent between April and May 2015; while the “seasonally adjusted” total number of unemployed youths between 16 and 19 years-of-age in the United States increased by 53,000 (from 986,000 to 1,039,000) during the same period.

The official “seasonally adjusted” jobless rate for Black male workers over 20 years-of-age in the United States also increased from 9.2 to 10.2 percent between April and May 2015; while the “seasonally adjusted” unemployment rate for all Black workers in the United States (youth, male and female) increased from 9.6 to 10.2 percent during the same period. In addition, between April and May 2015 the total “seasonally adjusted” official number of unemployed Black workers in the United States increased by 120,000 (from 1,868,000 to 1,988,000); while the jobless rate for Black female workers over 20 years-of-age in the United States was still 8.8 percent in May 2015, according to the “seasonally adjusted” data..

In May 2015, the official “seasonally adjusted” unemployment rate for Latino male workers over 20 years-of-age was still 6 percent; while the official “seasonally adjusted” jobless rate for all Latino workers (youth, male and female) in the United States was still 6.7 percent during the same month. In addition, the official “seasonally adjusted” unemployment rate for Latina female workers over 20 years-of-age was still 6.5 percent in May 2015; while the “seasonally adjusted” number of unemployed Latino workers not in the U.S. labor force increased by 97,000 (from 13,237,000 to 13,334,000) between April and May 2015. And in May 2015, the “seasonally adjusted” jobless rate for Asian-American workers was still 4.1 percent.

The official “seasonally adjusted” jobless rate for white female workers over 20 years-of-age in the United States increased from 4.2 to 4.3 percent between April and May 2015; while the official “seasonally adjusted” unemployment rate for white male workers over 20 years-of-age was still 4.2 percent in May 2015. In addition, the “seasonally adjusted” unemployment rate for all white workers (youth, male and female) was still 4.7 percent in May 2015; while the “seasonally adjusted” total number of unemployed white workers increased by 36,000 (from 5,791,000 to 5,827,000) between April and May 2015.

The official “seasonally adjusted” jobless rate for all female workers over 16 years-of-age in the United States was still 5.4 percent in May 2015; while the official “seasonally adjusted” unemployment rate for all female workers over 20 years-of-age increased from 4.9 to 5 percent between April and May 2015. In addition, the official “seasonally adjusted” jobless rate for all male workers over 16 years-of-age in the United States increased from 5.5 to 5.6 percent during the same period; while the official “seasonally adjusted” unemployment rate for all male workers over 20 years-of-age was still 5 percent in May 2015.

Between April and May 2015, the official “seasonally adjusted” total number of unemployed workers in the United States increased by 125,000 (from 8,549,,000 to 8,674,000); while the official unemployment rate for all U.S. workers (male, female and youth) increased from 5.4  to 5.5 percent during the same period, according to the “seasonally adjusted” data

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ June 5, 2015 press release:

“….The unemployment rate was essentially unchanged at 5.5 percent….Mining employment continued to decline...The number of unemployed new entrants edged up by 103,000 in May….Unemployed new entrants are those who never previously worked…..The number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks or more) held at 2.5 million in May and accounted for 28.6 percent of the unemployed….

"The number of persons employed part time for economic reasons (sometimes referred to as involuntary part-time workers) was about unchanged at 6.7 million in May and has shown little movement in recent months. These individuals, who would have preferred full-time employment, were working part-time because their hours had been cut back or because they were unable to find a full-time job.

In May, 1.9 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 563,000 discouraged workers in May...Discouraged workers are persons not currently looking for work because they believe no jobs are available for them....

“Employment in mining fell for the fifth month in a row, with a decline of 17,000 in May. The loss was in support activities for mining. Employment in mining has decreased by 68,000 thus far this year...Employment in other major industries, including manufacturing, wholesale trade, information, and government showed little change over the month....The change in total nonfarm payroll employment...for April was revised from +223,000 to +221,000..."