By Mona Austin
The U.S. posted strong numbers for the nation's unemployment status for the month of April 2018 and Pres. Trump is boasting about the employment upswing, especially when it comes to Blacks and joblessness. A lower rate of unemployment is good news for the nation as when the nation sees growth as a whole there is a tendency to see progress in most measured categories such as race.
Trump is not saying is Blacks are at the bottom of the employment barrel among minorities, giving the impression there is a complete turn-around. The overall unemployment rate, currently 3.9 percent, is the lowest in 18 years according to Reuters. The improvement has an impact across the board. It is true that the unemployment rate among African Americans is the lowest since 1972. However, at just 6.6 percent for Blacks in comparison to 2.7 percent for Asian-Americans, 3.6 percent for Whites and 4.8 percent for Hispanics (also the lowest to date), racial disparities in the job market are still obvious. What Trump continues to ignore is the inequality of opportunity that continues to marginalize Blacks.
Also, experts note there has not been a notable change in wage increases. Progress in employment is so minute it is hard to show us the money. Most of us would agree that something is better than nothing (being employed vs. being jobless.) This positive trend in unemployment is good for the country and workers, but it isn't enough to improve people's quality of life to the point of bragging.