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| The unemployment rate went up for Asians and Blacks. |
ASAM NEWS
The unemployment rate unexpectedly dropped nationwide in May, but new figures released Friday show that so far Asians and Blacks are being left out of the recovery, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Reuters reports the unemployment rate of Asian Americans rose from 14.5% in April to 15% in May.
The rate for Blacks also rose to 16.7% in May, up 0.1% from April. This as overall, joblessness dropped to 13.3% in May, a significant drop from April’s 14.7%. Most of the jobs seemed to have gone to White employees. White employment increased 3.3%.
However, unemployment may be higher than reported and touted by Donald Trump in an unscheduled press conference. The BLS admitted an error in how furloughed workers were treated in the data sample would boost the actual unemployment rate just over to 16%.
Nevertheless, the latest numbers show that Asian Americans and Blacks were atill adversely affected by the economic slowdown caused by measures being used to combat the coronavirus pandemic.
In Minnesota, 24% of Asian Americans applied for unemployment compared to 22% of the overall population, according to MPR News.
“Little Mekong is a destination for Asian businesses and restaurants and culture, and so we’re really concerned that the Little Mekong district could disappear because of COVID-19,” said Va-Megn Thoj, executive director of the Asian Economic Development Association to MPR.
California, the state with the most Asian Americans, does not break down its numbers according to race.
In New York, with the second largest Asian American population, unemployment rose more then 4,000% in the latest statistics available for the week ended May 9.
Even as businesses begin to reopen, optimism is not high.
“Even though we may reopen by the end of this month or whatever, I don’t think people are going to be coming out to eat or shopping,” Gary Lin said to ABC News. “I don’t think that business will recover just like before.”
Nevertheless, the latest numbers show that Asian Americans and Blacks were atill adversely affected by the economic slowdown caused by measures being used to combat the coronavirus pandemic.
In Minnesota, 24% of Asian Americans applied for unemployment compared to 22% of the overall population, according to MPR News.
“Little Mekong is a destination for Asian businesses and restaurants and culture, and so we’re really concerned that the Little Mekong district could disappear because of COVID-19,” said Va-Megn Thoj, executive director of the Asian Economic Development Association to MPR.
California, the state with the most Asian Americans, does not break down its numbers according to race.
In New York, with the second largest Asian American population, unemployment rose more then 4,000% in the latest statistics available for the week ended May 9.
Even as businesses begin to reopen, optimism is not high.
“Even though we may reopen by the end of this month or whatever, I don’t think people are going to be coming out to eat or shopping,” Gary Lin said to ABC News. “I don’t think that business will recover just like before.”
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