(AURN News) – In a mixed economic report, the latest data from the Department of Labor reveals that while the country’s overall unemployment rate remains low at 3.8 percent, Black Americans are not sharing equally in the gains.
The economy added 303,000 jobs in March, with the biggest increases coming in the healthcare, government, and construction sectors. However, Black Americans were the only racial group to see an uptick in unemployment during this period.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate for Black Americans rose, even as the rates for Asian and Hispanic Americans declined to 2.5 percent and 4.5 percent respectively. The unemployment rate for White Americans remained unchanged at 3.4 percent.
The healthcare sector saw a notable increase of 72,000 jobs, while government added 71,000 positions and construction gained 39,000 new jobs. The report also showed an increase in average hourly wages, which rose to $34.69, or more than $72,000 a year.
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