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Highlights of the March 2011 Employment Report
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For Information on Regional and State Employment, click here. |
In February, the economy gained 192,000 jobs while private sector employment increased by 222,000. These numbers show much stronger job growth than last month’s revised numbers of 63,000 net total job growth and 68,000 net private jobs (excluding government). On March 31, 2011, the National Urban League releases its signature publication, "The State of Black America 2011, Jobs Rebuild America: Putting Urban America Back to Work".
What did the March employment statistics have to say about the state of black unemployment?
The black unemployment rate rose slightly to 15.5% (from 15.3%) and the participation rate fell slightly to 61.5% (from 61.7%):
- Unemployment rate for adult black men rose to 16.8% (from 16.2%) and for adult black women it fell to 12.5% (from 13%).
- Participation rate for adult black men rose to 68.7% (from 68.2%) and for adult black women it fell to 62.1% (from 63.1%).
- Overall teen unemployment rate rose to 24.5% (from 23.9%) and the black teen rate also rose to 42.1% (from 38.4%).
Click here for the March 2011 National Urban League Jobs Report.
Thank you for joining us on Friday, April 1, 2011 from 2-3pm for the live online chat hosted by Dr. Valerie Rawlston Wilson, economist at the National Urban League, where we discussed the newly released March employment statistics and the State of Urban Jobs (SOUJ) .
Review the Q&A from the March 2011 SOUJ Chat and Comment Below!
MARCH 2011
STATE OF URBAN JOBS CHAT HIGHLIGHTS
Two points are clear from the March 2011 Employment Situation report:
- Two consecutive months of job growth over 200,000 and the continued incremental decline in the unemployment rate (8.8%) has sparked some optimism about the recovery
- Despite these “good signs”, this same optimism is not being felt across all communities and unemployment rates remain elevated for African Americans (15.5%).
In today’s chat Dr. Wilson shared with participants why a move to execute budget cuts too soon could have a negative impact on job creation and economic growth. She also heard, from chat participants who are eager to know where these new jobs are, about the challenges they face and observe in their local job markets. If you missed the chat, here’s your opportunity to weigh in by sharing your thoughts on the following questions:
- In a political environment where the House majority is set on making severe budget cuts to domestic spending programs, what are the best strategies for gaining traction on the ideas promoted in NUL’s 12-point Jobs Plan?
- To job seekers: What have been some of your experiences in applying and interviewing for jobs? Are you aware of job openings in your area? What do you perceive as persistent road blocks to finding a job?
Share Your Comments Below:
Dr. Valerie Rawlston Wilson is an economist and Vice President of Research at the National Urban League Policy Institute where she is responsible for planning and directing the Policy Institute’s Research Agenda. She is one of the primary architects of the National Urban League’s Plan for Putting Americans Back to Work, a bold 6-point job creation plan for urban America. Dr. Wilson has served as Managing Editor and Associate Editor of The State of Black America report and is staff director and ex-officio member of the National Urban League President’s Council of Economic Advisors, designed to assist the League in shaping national economic policy. Her fields of specialization include labor economics, economics of higher education, poverty and racial inequality. Dr. Wilson earned a PhD in economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Additional information:
NUL’s State of Urban Jobs site at iamempowered.com gives you everything you need to know about jobs including the monthly employment report with stats for Blacks, Whites and Latinos, the National Urban League’s response to the current crisis, the facts about how investing in job creation is the best strategy for reducing the deficit, as well as resume writing tips and job listings.
The project was launched in 2010 by Iamempowered.com and the National Urban League’s Policy Institute, to bring the Institute’s esteemed research, policy analysis and publications online. Through such activities as the annual Legislative Policy Conference and the publication of The State of Black America the Policy Institute provides a foundation from which to advocate on behalf of African Americans and urban communities. The Institute’s extensive collection of reports, fact sheets and publications is made available in one location for scholars, policy analysts, policymakers and advocacy groups, along with tools and information for entrepreneurs, job seekers, and those seeking information on the emerging green economy.
