Depressed states: Unemployment rate near 20% for some groups

Recent reports of incremental employment gains should not overshadow the continuing depth of the jobs crisis in America—a crisis whose severity for some groups rivals the magnitude of the Great Depression. For example, unemployment among African Americans in Michigan and Hispanics in Rhode Island has exceeded 20% since 2009. In 17 other states, the African American unemployment rate was at least 15% for most or all of 2010, while at least 15% of Hispanics in Nevada, Connecticut, and California were unemployed in 2010. Whites in California, Michigan, Nevada, Oregon, and Rhode Island are also experiencing unemployment rates of 10% or higher.

These findings highlight that America’s ongoing jobs crisis is unevenly felt. While all demographic groups are hurting, the pain of joblessness is more common among African Americans and Hispanics than whites.