Unemployment by Race

Definition

Ratio of the unemployment rate of the white, non-Hispanic labor force and labor force of color (Black or African-American; Hispanic or Latino or other races), 2011.

Calculated by dividing the higher value by the lower value, i.e., the unemployment rate of the population of color divided by the white unemployment rate.

A ratio of 1 indicates perfect equality; the higher the ratio, the greater the inequality. For example, the unemployment rate for workers of color in North Dakota is 5.9 times higher than for white workers.

Description

This measure describes the disparity in unemployment between white workers and workers of color. Unemployment does not affect all races and ethnicities equally, and in every state, people of color experience higher unemployment than whites. There are many complex factors behind this disparity, but even when looking at workers with similar levels of education, disparities in unemployment persist. According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2011, the unemployment rate for white workers with a bachelor’s degree or higher was 3.9% but for Black or African American and Hispanic workers with similar degrees, the rate was 7.1% and 5.7%, respectively.

For more information on racial disparities in unemployment, see the Economic Policy Institute.

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Unemployment by Race

State	Unemployment Rate, White Workers (%)	Unemployment Rate, Workers of Color (%)	Ratio	Rank
United States	7.2%	12.4%	1.72
Alabama	7.5%	15.3%	2.04	35
Alaska	6.5%	10.6%	1.63	15
Arizona	7.8%	12.4%	1.59	11
Arkansas	6.7%	14.7%	2.20	40
California	9.5%	13.3%	1.41	8
Colorado	7.2%	12.3%	1.70	19
Connecticut	7.1%	14.5%	2.04	36
Delaware	6.2%	10.2%	1.65	16
District of Columbia	3.3%	16.0%	4.90	50
Florida	7.8%	13.3%	1.70	18
Georgia	7.7%	13.6%	1.78	26
Hawaii	6.6%	7.5%	1.13	1
Idaho	8.3%	10.9%	1.32	4
Illinois	7.7%	14.1%	1.82	27
Indiana	8.2%	14.2%	1.74	22
Iowa	5.1%	11.7%	2.29	42
Kansas	5.6%	11.9%	2.11	37
Kentucky	8.9%	14.4%	1.62	12
Louisiana	5.3%	12.5%	2.36	43
Maine	7.6%	18.2%	2.40	44
Maryland	5.5%	9.0%	1.62	13
Massachusetts	6.7%	9.4%	1.39	5
Michigan	8.9%	15.6%	1.75	23
Minnesota	5.5%	13.5%	2.47	45
Mississippi	6.8%	16.8%	2.47	46
Missouri	7.4%	13.8%	1.88	28
Montana	6.8%	13.4%	1.97	32
Nebraska	3.5%	9.6%	2.70	47
Nevada	11.2%	15.7%	1.40	7
New Hampshire	5.2%	8.5%	1.62	14
New Jersey	7.9%	11.6%	1.47	10
New Mexico	5.3%	9.2%	1.73	21
New York	6.4%	11.0%	1.71	20
North Carolina	8.0%	15.4%	1.93	30
North Dakota	2.4%	13.9%	5.86	51
Ohio	7.6%	14.4%	1.89	29
Oklahoma	4.7%	9.9%	2.12	38
Oregon	8.8%	12.3%	1.40	6
Pennsylvania	6.7%	13.1%	1.95	31
Rhode Island	9.1%	19.3%	2.13	39
South Carolina	7.9%	15.7%	2.00	33
South Dakota	3.9%	13.1%	3.40	49
Tennessee	7.8%	13.8%	1.76	25
Texas	5.7%	9.7%	1.69	17
Utah	6.7%	8.3%	1.24	2
Vermont	5.8%	7.4%	1.28	3
Virginia	5.2%	9.2%	1.75	24
Washington	8.5%	12.4%	1.46	9
West Virginia	7.5%	17.0%	2.26	41
Wisconsin	6.3%	17.1%	2.70	48
Wyoming	5.3%	10.7%	2.01	34

Source

Current Population Survey. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, 2011. Data calculated by the Bay Area Council Economic Institute.