Jobs, jobs, and more jobs are what most Americans are concerned about. In fact just last week the Daily Kos released a poll where the majority of respondents stated that jobs are their number one issue.
So why can’t minorities find one? Why are so many African-Americans and Hispanics having issues finding jobs?
According to a report released by Florida International University and the Research Institute on Social and Economic Policy, the unemployment rate amongst African-Americans in 2010 was a whopping 16.8% and 13.6% for Hispanics. Compare that to the 9.1% unemployment rate for White Floridians and I believe our state has a disparity problem.
Perhaps the most important portion of the report is regarding Florida’s new law that will condense the number of weeks the jobless are able to collect unemployment benefits from the state.
While the new legislation will only cut benefits based upon the state’s unemployment rate, African-Americans and Hispanics will still be disproportionately affected because it is much harder for them to find work.
I hate to throw another piece of research out but the newest government report on jobs reveals that the African-American employment rate nationwide is at its lowest since 1972.
Governor Scott we could really use those jobs you promised to create now. In fact, we needed them yesterday.
The news doesn’t get much better locally either. The Economic Policy Institute has a report that states that 15% of Orlando’s black population is out of a job compared to just 9% of white residents. That is a healthy difference of 6 percentage points.
Our city is in peril and we have effectively swept these issues under the rug.
Instead of testing state recipients of welfare for drugs how about creating a jobs program for minorities?
Almost 17 percent of black folk in the state of Florida are without a job and African-Americans only make-up 16% of the total population.
No state can maintain any type of economic growth without providing sufficient aide to the entire population, not just parts of it. If we are truly committed to making Downtown Orlando the city’s economic hub, then a thoroughly funded jobs program should be part of that creation.
But why are these numbers so high for minorities? Disparities in education, level of skills, economic inequality, and a little bit of discrimination are just some of the things that cause these numbers to spike, but education is the number one factor.
The Education Trust, an education advocacy group, states that only 40% of African-Americans attain a bachelor’s degree within six years of college. For white Americans that number jumps to a vigorous 60%.
With Rick Scott and the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature continuing to cut money from education, this problem will persist for the next decade and more.
Without adequate funding for education, the state has effectively rendered itself unproductive when it comes to training a good workforce, growing its economy and keeping the unemployment rate low.
Now I understand that more than just minorities are still feeling the pinch of the recession. The state’s housing market is still reeling and Florida’s budget is about as healthy as Orlando’s chances of keeping Dwight Howard.
But with double digit unemployment rates and many unemployed for more than 24 months, I believe the issues are much greater in communities of color.
There is a saying that when America has a cold, black folks have pneumonia.
Many in the black community are now on life support and we’re watching some of them slip away.
