Unemployment rate within each racial group, 1972-2015
The graph illustrates quarterly unemployment rates for Asians, blacks, Hispanics, and whites from 1972 to 2015. Unemployment data for Hispanics and Asians was not collected until 1974 and 2002, respectively. Each racial group demonstrates similar patterns over time, however, blacks, noted with a blue line, seem to take the largest toll in unemployment reaching a height of over 20% just as Ronald Raegan took office and almost three times the unemployment rate compared to whites. We can observe a similar trend for blacks during the 2008 economic crash.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey, (Seas) Unemployment Rate, Series ID: LNS14000000.
Author: Alfredo Gonzalez