Current Black Unemployment Crisis: Nothing New

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's Center for Economic Development recently put out some startling unemployment numbers for black men in their city.The study showed that 53% of the men were jobless and is the largest figure since the statistics were available in 1970.The “jobless rate” is a measurement that includes men who are officially unemployed as well as those who are disabled, incarcerated, voluntarily unemployed or retired and discouraged workers who have given up looking for work. This more-inclusive measurement is higher than the official unemployment rate.Joblessness among black men in their prime working years, between 25 and 54, jumped from 36% to 44% from 2008 to 2009.Improved high-school graduation rates aren’t holding down black male unemployment. The number of high-school graduates for those over the age of 25 has increased from 34% in 1970 to 75% in 2009. But the jobless rate for black men in their prime earning years has tripled during the same period.

Professor Marc Levine’s study shows that the greatest factor in the persistent racial gap is “entrenched segregation,” as he put it.
As of 2008, 38% of the city of Milwaukee’s population is African American, while 25% of Milwaukee County is African American.
Compare that to the 2000 U.S. Census figures for Waukesha County, which is 96% white and 0.73% African American; Ozaukee County, which is 97% white and 0.2% African American; and Washington County, which is 98% white and 0.4% African American.
“We have the lowest rate of black suburbanization of any large metropolitan area in the country,” Levine said. “Since job growth has been a bit better in suburban areas than in central cities, the fact that we have so few African-American males living in the suburbs means that blacks don’t have ready access to where the jobs are.”
Levine also pointed to the high incarceration rate for black men in Milwaukee.
“We have a criminal justice policy for young black men, not an employment policy,” Levine said.
Levine suggested that improved regional transit, job training and a “Marshall Plan” for public works jobs would help to boost black men’s job prospects.
Local businesses and governments should have a “buy locally, hire locally” policy, Levine added.
In 2009, the Milwaukee Common Council passed the MORE Ordinance, which had been spearheaded by the Good Jobs and Livable Neighborhoods Coalition.
The ordinance requires all private development projects seeking more than $1 million in public assistance to prioritize the hiring of workers from the city who are unemployed or underemployed and to seek contracts from emerging or local businesses before contracting with other vendors.

The MORE Ordinance is a step in the right direction.I would take a bigger step in NYS by writing legislation to mandate the buying of products made within the state. I would like to see unemployed, low income workers make designated products throughout the state where unemployment is very high. NYS citizens would have to buy these products or face a stiff tax(2-5% of yearly income).These products could be drawn from common purchases( home improvement,new appliances) that the majority of the citizens buy.The state production facilities would have a large start up(maybe the same as incarceration costs) cost but it would be run like any business for profit and expansion.Starting salaries would be $15/hr. and training would be provided at each center.Retail outlets would provide additional employment for the same population. Any designated products already being produced in NYS would be compensated and welcomed to join the state production association.Private business would be paid to share technology and expertise in the areas of production.Consumer costs would be higher than today's market but the payback in human enhancement would be great.Eventually, the state would save on numerous social service costs in the long run.