Black Unemployment Rate Dropped in July
The latest figures released by the U.S. Department of Labor shows that the African-American unemployment rate decreased to 9.1 percent in July from 9.5 percent in June.
This remains almost double the national rate of unemployment in July, which was 5.3 percent.
There were 215,000 jobs added to the labor market in July, mostly in professional and business services, leisure and hospitality and health care industries.
For Black men over the age of 20, the unemployment rate dropped to 8.8 percent from 9.5 percent. For Black women of the same age, the unemployment rate rose slightly from 7.9 to 8.0 percent over the past month.
For Black youth specifically, ages 16 to 19, the jobless rate decreased from 31.8 percent to 28.7 percent.
Wages also increased on average for workers, with payrolls adding .05 cents per hour last month.
Follow Natelege Whaley on Twitter: @Natelege_
BET National News - Keep up to date with breaking news stories from around the nation, including headlines from the hip hop and entertainment world.
Click here to enter the #LookYourSundayBest contest for a chance to win FREE natural hair-care products.
(Photo: Andrew Burton/Getty Images)