Black Male Worker `Not Seasonally Adjusted' Unemployment Rate Increases To 9.2 Percent In February 2016

Between January and February 2016, the official “not seasonally adjusted” unemployment rate for Black male workers over 20 years-of-age in the United States increased from 9.1 to 9.2 percent; while the official “not seasonally adjusted” jobless rate for all Black workers (youth, male and female) in the United States was still 8.9 percent in February 2016, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Between January and February 2016, the “not seasonally adjusted” number of Black female workers over 20 years-of-age in the United States labor force decreased by 30,000 (from 9,927,000 to 9,897,000); while the “not seasonally adjusted” number of Black female workers over 20 years-of-age who still had jobs decreased by 5,000 (from 9,134,000 to 9,129,000).  In addition, the official “not seasonally adjusted” unemployment rate for Black female workers over 20 years-of-age in the United States was still 7.8 percent in February 2016.

The official “not seasonally adjusted” unemployment rate for Black youths between 16 and 19 year-of age was still 21.4 percent in February 2016; while the “not seasonally adjusted” jobless rate for white youths between 16 and 19 years-of-age was still 14.3 percent during that same month. In addition, the official “not seasonally adjusted” unemployment rate for all youths between 16 and 19 years-of-age in the United States was still 15.5 percent in February 2016; while the “not seasonally adjusted” jobless rate for Latino youths between 16 and 19 years-of-age was still 14.5 percent during that same month. And the “not seasonally adjusted” number of Latino youths between 16 and 19 years-of-age in the U.S. labor force decreased by 31,000 (from 1,166,000 to 1,135,000) between January and February 2016.

The “not seasonally adjusted” unemployment rate for Latino male workers over 20 years-of-age in the United States was still 5.5 percent in February 2016; while the official “not seasonally adjusted” unemployment rate for all Latino workers (youth, male and female) in the United States was still 5.9 percent during that same month. In addition, the official “not seasonally adjusted” jobless rate for Latina female workers over 20 years-of-age was still 5.5 percent in February 2016.

The “not seasonally adjusted” number of unemployed  Asian-American workers increased by 25,000 (from 343,000 to 368,000) between January and February 2016; while the official unemployment rate for Asian-American workers in the United States increased from 3.7  to 3.9 percent during the same period, according to the “not seasonally adjusted” data.

In February 2016, the official “not seasonally adjusted” jobless rate for all white workers (youth, male and female) in the United States was still 4.6 percent; while the official “not seasonally adjusted” unemployment rate for white male workers over 20 years-of-age in the United States was still 4.5 percent during that same month.  In addition between January and February 2016 the official “not seasonally adjusted” number of jobless white male workers over 20 years-of-age increased by 6,000 (from 2,904,000 to 2,910,000); while the “not seasonally adjusted” jobless rate for white female workers over 20 years-of-age was still 3.9 percent in February 2016..

In February 2016, the “not seasonally adjusted” jobless rate for all female workers over 16 years-of-age in the United States was still 4.8 percent; while the official “not seasonally adjusted” unemployment rate for all female workers over 20 years-of-age was still 4.5 percent during that same month..

The official “not seasonally adjusted” unemployment rate for all male workers over 16 years-of-age in the United States was still 5.5 percent in February 2016; while the official “not seasonally adjusted” unemployment rate for all male workers over 20 years-of-age was still 5.1 percent during that same month. In addition, the “not seasonally adjusted” number of all unemployed male workers over 16 years-of-age in the United States increased by 68,000 (from 4,569,000 to 4,637,000) between January and February 2016; while the “not seasonally adjusted” number of unemployed male workers over 20 years-of-age increased by 71,000 (from 4,087,000 to 4,158,000) during the same period.

In February 2016, 8,219,000 workers in the United States were officially unemployed, according to the “not seasonally adjusted” data; and in February 2016 the “not seasonally adjusted”” unemployment rate for all U.S. workers (male, female and youth) was still 5.2 percent.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ March 4, 2016 press release:

“…Job losses continued in mining…In February, the unemployment rate held at 4.9 percent, and the number of unemployed persons, at 7.8 million, was unchanged…The number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks or more) was essentially unchanged at 2.2 million in February and has shown little movement since June. In February, these individuals accounted for 27.7 percent of the unemployed…

“The number of persons employed part time for economic reasons (also referred to as involuntary part-time workers) was unchanged in February at 6 million and has shown little movement since November. These individuals, who would have preferred full-time employment, were working part time because their hours have been cut back or because they were unable to find a full-time job…

“In February, 1.8 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 599,000 discouraged workers in February…Discouraged workers are persons not currently looking for work because they believe no jobs are available for them….

“Employment in mining continued to decline in February  (-19,000), with job losses in support activities for mining (-16,000) and coal mining (-2,000). Since a recent peak in September 2014, mining has shed 171,000 jobs, with more than three-fourths of the loss in support activities for mining.

“Employment in other major industries, including manufacturing, wholesale trade, transportation and warehousing, financial activities, professional and business services, and government, showed little change over the month….

“In February, average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls declined by 3 cents to $25.35...”