The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the national unemployment rate fell to 8.5 percent last month, a three-year low. Employers added 200,000 jobs in December, including transportation and warehousing, health care and social assistance, retail trade, manufacturing, leisure and hospitality, and construction.
Black women and black teens didn't get the memo that employers were hiring.
The black unemployment rate rose from 15.5 percent to 15.8 percent. Black male joblessness fell from 16.4 percent to 15.7 percent.
Black female unemployment is 13.9 percent, up from 13.0 percent. Black teen joblessness also rose from 39.6 percent to 42.1 percent.
Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose. The more things change, the more they stay the same. Black folks are still the last hired.
