FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
November 8, 2013

Contact: Colin Seeberger, colin.seeberger@younginvincibles.org, 214.223.2913

Black Youth Unemployment Rate Has Increased Since Last Year; Young Black Unemployment Continues to Lag Overall National Youth Unemployment

[WASHINGTON]—As the overall youth unemployment rate for 18 to 29 year-olds sunk to 10.9 percent, the African American youth unemployment rate fell to 19.6 percent in October. For younger black workers, ages 16 to 24, the unemployment rate also went down to 25.0 percent from 25.3 percent in September.

This latest report reveals that black young adult unemployment has remained markedly higher in comparison to the nation’s overall youth unemployment rate over the course of the last year. The black youth unemployment rate for 18 to 29 year-olds has actually gotten worse in the last year, from 19.2 percent in October 2012 to 19.6 percent today (not seasonally adjusted). Moreover, black young adult unemployment is over 2.5 times higher than the nation’s overall unemployment rate.

Rory O’Sullivan, Policy & Research Director at Young Invincibles, released the following statement on this month’s black youth unemployment figures:

“These numbers are unacceptably high. We have done too little to address the youth unemployment crisis generation facing unemployed young black men and women. The time has long passed to invest in job training programs that will create opportunity for young people from communities facing dire levels of unemployment. We will continue to work with both the public and private sectors to address this crisis threatening all Americans.”

Today’s report shows that young black men continue to shoulder the highest rates of unemployment in the United States at 29.6 for 16 to 24 year-olds. The unemployment rate for young black women is 20.9 percent.

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Young Invincibles is a national organization committed to amplifying the voices of young adults, ages 18 to 34, and expanding economic opportunity for our generation. Young Invincibles ensures that young adults are represented in today’s most pressing societal debates through cutting-edge policy research and analysis, and innovative campaigns designed to educate, inform and mobilize our generation to change the status quo.