The
Labor Department began tracking unemployment data by race or ethnic group in 1972.
Fox News reports the December figures for various groups.
The U.S. Labor Department reported Friday that the unemployment rate for African-Americans fell to 6.8 percent in December – the lowest rate since recordkeeping began in 1972. That’s an astounding drop from the 8.3 percent black unemployment rate in October 2016, just before Donald Trump was elected president.
Hispanic unemployment was at a near-record low of 4.9 percent in December – down from 5.7 percent the month before the election of President Trump.
Asian-Americans, the demographic group that typically has the lowest unemployment rate, enjoyed a 2.5 percent unemployment rate in December – the lowest figure since 2006.
The overall U.S. unemployment rate in December was 4.1 percent, matching the lowest level in 17 years – down from 4.9 percent in October 2016.
Their conclusion, which I share, is the following:
In just under one year in office, the president and the Republican Congress have helped minorities make dramatic gains.
What’s unclear is whether blacks and Hispanics will credit the GOP with their economic gains, when (or indeed if) they vote.
