Monday, January 29, 2018

So, what's the story on Black unemployment?

Black unemployment is at its lowest level since about about 2000.  Trump takes credit for this.  His opponents point out that it has been declining since about 2010 and credit Obama.

Here is the Black unemployment record.


It looks like Trump's opponents have a case.

Here is the Black labor force participation rate for the same period.


Black labor force participation declined from 2000 to about 2014 and then began to rise in about 2015.  That story favors Trump's supporters.

Which of the records tells the story correctly?  Most likely the Black labor force participation rate, because the Black unemployment rate does not reflect people who have given up (officially) looking for work, which understates the true unemployment rate.

factcheck.org missed this tidbit.

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