Jobless rate improving for black teens in Arkansas, still ‘unacceptably high’

The employment figures for minority teens is improving in Arkansas but still remains at a high level ahead of the summer period when many youths between the ages of 16-19 look for jobs.

At the beginning of 2015, Talk Business & Politics looked at the jobless rate for black teenagers in Arkansas (ages 16-19) just as the state unemployment picture began to improve and the number of unemployed workers across the state showed signs of stability compared to a difficult period between 2011 and 2013.

In the last month of 2014, the jobless rate for black teenagers was a whopping 36.5%, compared to 8.5% for whites and 8.3% for Hispanic teens, respectively. Post-recession, unemployment among black teens jumped to as high as 53.9% in June 2011, when the overall state jobless rate rose to 8.9%.

Only a year ago, Greg Kaza, executive director of the Arkansas Policy Foundation, described the persistently high unemployment among black youth as “scandalous.” He said part of the blame is on an education system failing minorities with respect to providing workforce skills.

Today, those numbers have improved substantially as the state’s job market has stabilized, dropping from a rate of 33.4% in January 2015 to a 17.3% rate in January 2016. That compares with rising jobless rates among white and Hispanic teens at 14.6% and 13.5%, respectively.

However, Kaza said Thursday (April 7) that the black youth unemployment rate “is unacceptably high when compared to the regular unemployment rate.” Among all youth, and especially black teens, some lack the skills needed to find a job and some are “priced out of some markets.”

Kaza said the Arkansas education system is one of several reasons for higher jobless rates among black teens.

“Various factors have contributed to the problem. One factor are public schools in academic distress that do not teach skills required to participate in a work force. A skilled work force relies on education systems and is a factor of economic development.  Yet the state Department of Education classified 22 public schools in February 2015 as being in ‘academic distress’ because ‘49.5 percent or less of students’ scored ‘proficient’ or ‘advanced’ on state math and literacy exams ‘for the most recent three year period,’” Kaza noted.

He also said persistent unemployment may result in longer term issues.

“The unemployed in any demographic group risk losing the dignity of work, which can lead to loss of hope and fewer opportunities in the future,” Kaza said.