Report Documents Long-Term Unemployment in African-American Communities

A new congressional report by the Joint Economic Committee (JEC), “Long Term Unemployment in the African American Community,” shows that African-American communities have been among the hardest hit during the recession.

According to the report, “though African Americans make up 11.5 percent of the labor force, they account for 17.8 percent of the unemployed, 20.3 percent of those unemployed for more than six months, and 22.1 percent of workers unemployed for a year or more.” The JEC is a bicameral committee made up of Republicans and Democrats that studies issues related to the economy.

The findings of the latest JEC report were discussed at a March 17 hearing of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC). Chairwoman Barbara Lee, D. CA, began the hearing with a call to action, highlighting that while the whole country was hurting, the pain in minority communities — particularly within African-American communities — is increasing each day.

CBC members heard testimony in support of the Local Jobs for America Act, a bill introduced by Rep. George Miller, D. CA, and cosponsored by several members of the caucus. The Miller bill authorizes $100 billion in funding over two years for preserving state and local government jobs, creating local government jobs, and creating jobs in the non-profit sector.  It is estimated to save or create more than one million jobs.

“The [Miller bill] takes into account three factors — population, poverty, and unemployment — to significantly help communities where poverty and joblessness remains high,” said Rep. Lee. “While state and local governments are laying people off in order to balance their budgets, the Local Jobs for America Act will create public and private sector jobs in communities across America.”

Civil rights groups view the Miller bill as a more comprehensive approach to dealing with the current jobs crisis. Jobs for America, a coalition of more than 50 national organizations — including The Leadership Conference, The AFL-CIO, Center for Community Change, Economic Policy Institute, NAACP, and National Council of La Raza — is calling for urgent and broader action on the jobs crisis in the U.S.