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Jobs Report for June 2017

Reflecting a strong month of job growth in the economy overall, the number of employed young adults ages 18-to-34 increased by 199,000 in June. The young adult unemployment rate declined from 6.0 percent in May to 5.8 percent in June. Both of these estimates are seasonably adjusted.

June jobs numbers

The young African American unemployment rate of 9.9 percent (non-seasonably adjusted and unchanged from May) is nearly double the national rate of 4.4 percent. The young Latino unemployment rate increased slightly to 6.2 percent in June from 6.0 percent in May (not seasonably adjusted).

With postsecondary education the strongest pathway to economic security, it is disturbing that the gap in education attainment between African Americans and white individuals is widening in the vast majority of states. Earlier this year YI published A Blueprint for Higher Education Equity, a series of policy recommendations to improve access, success, and post-college outcomes for students of color.