(AURN News) — Black unemployment rose to 6.8 percent in June, according to the latest U.S. jobs report, even as the broader economy added 147,000 positions.
The overall unemployment rate ticked up slightly to 4.1 percent, but the gap between racial groups widened: While joblessness for Black workers increased, the unemployment rate for white workers dropped to 3.6 percent.
Government hiring led the gains. State governments added 47,000 jobs in June — primarily in education — while local governments added 23,000.
Health care also saw growth, with 39,000 jobs added. The federal government, however, lost 7,000 jobs last month.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, federal employment has declined by 69,000 so far this year. Average hourly pay rose by 8 cents to $36.30.
The uneven impact of these changes raises fresh questions about where the economy is headed — and who is most vulnerable when job growth slows in some sectors but accelerates in others.
Click play to listen to the AURN News report from Jamie Jackson:
