Capable Workers, Not Enough Work The proportion of individuals who are of working age (16 and over) who are actually employed, known as the employment-population ration, has fallen for all demographic groups since before the recession began in December 2007. Over the past year, Latinos have lost ground compared to Whites when it comes to the proportion of adults who are successful in finding a job. The disparity between Blacks and White and Hispanic workers remains wide.
Employment-Population Ratio by Race and Ethnicity 2007 2010 Employment-Population Ratio (%)
68.0 66.0 64.0
White 59.6%
62.0 60.0
Hispanic 59.4%
58.0 56.0
Black 53.0%
54.0 52.0 50.0 2007
2008
2009
2010
Year Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Data Retrieval: Labor Force Statistics, Current Population Survey. Washington, DC, http://www.bls.gov/webapps/legacy/cpsatab2.htm (accessed June 2010), Tables A-2 and A-3.