Press Office
Contact: Sharon Lee, (212) 669-3747 October 28, 2010
NEW YORK, NY – African-American and Hispanic New Yorkers are facing unemployment rates nearly three times higher than their counterparts according to a data analysis released today by New York City Comptroller John C. Liu. The breakdown, which tracks quarterly unemployment trends in New York City, identifies huge disparities in unemployment among the demographics of New Yorkers.
“What may be news to some is sadly the reality for too many. As clear as day, the data shows that the unemployment problem in New York City is one that disproportionately impacts people of color,” Comptroller Liu said. “The persistent disparities in unemployment are totally unacceptable and must be eradicated. This snapshot illustrates the need for a concerted effort aimed at those most affected by this crisis.”
With the release of New York City unemployment data last week, the Comptroller’s Bureau of Fiscal and Budget Studies analyzed raw data in the Current Population Survey (CPS) conducted by the Census Bureau and highlighted various trends among unemployed New Yorkers for the third quarter of 2010.
The breakdown offers details not readily available to the public and was designed to help provide policy makers with a snapshot of where the persistent unemployment exists. The findings indicate that although the City has seen its unemployment rate decline over the past six months, certain segments of the City’s population are feeling the effects of unemployment more than others. The full spreadsheet for the past twelve quarters can be found at http://comptroller.nyc.gov/bureaus/bud/Summary_economic_notes.shtm..
Race
The unemployment rate for African-American New Yorkers for the third quarter of 2010 was 15.3 percent, nearly three times higher than that of their white counterparts, which was 5.2 percent; unemployment among Hispanic New Yorkers was 13.3 percent during the same quarter.
| NYC unemployment by race/ethnicity: | 3Q08 | 3Q09 | 3Q10 |
| Black | 9.2% | 16.4% | 15.3% |
| White | 3.4% | 7.7% | 5.2% |
| Hispanic | 7.2% | 12.5% | 13.3% |
| Asian & other | 3.4% | 6.5% | 4.4% | Source: NYC Comptroller's Office from CPS micro data |
Borough
| NYC unemployment by borough: | 3Q08 | 3Q09 | 3Q10 |
| Bronx | 7.7% | 13.1% | 12.8% |
| Brooklyn | 6.3% | 11.0% | 10.3% |
| Manhattan | 5.0% | 9.1% | 7.8% |
| Queens | 5.1% | 9.1% | 8.5% |
| Staten Island | 5.4% | 9.2% | 9.1% | Source: NYS Dept. of Labor |
Unemployment Duration
More than 189,000 New Yorkers have been unemployed for more than six months, 96,000 for more than a year, and 62,000 for more than 18 months. This is a possible indication that the economic recovery is in danger of stalling out, or at best, that high unemployment rates will continue to persist for an extended period of time.
| NYC unemployed - by duration: | 3Q08 | 3Q09 | 3Q10 |
| Less than 5 wks | 66,513 | 72,597 | 58,570 |
| 5 to 14 wks | 59,427 | 103,477 | 86,777 |
| 15 to 26 wks | 31,627 | 77,563 | 49,233 |
| 27 wks or more | 61,453 | 174,037 | 189,537 |
| 53 wks or more | 17,934 | 62,540 | 96,017 |
| 80 wks or more | 12,542 | 35,743 | 62,867 | Source: NYC Comptroller's Office from CPS micro data |
Due to the sample sizes of the CPS data, this information is broken down on a quarterly basis to establish the most accurate depiction of the unemployment trends facing New Yorkers. In an effort to provide a timeline of unemployment data, the Comptroller’s office collected information for twelve consecutive quarters, dating back to the fourth quarter of 2007. The spreadsheet traces New York City’s unemployment condition before and during the recession, as well as through the current period of limited growth.
The Current Population Survey is a monthly survey of about 50,000 households conducted by the Bureau of the Census for the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The survey has been conducted for more than 50 years. CPS data are used by government policymakers and legislators as important indicators of our nation’s economic situation and for planning and evaluating many government programs. They are also used by the press, students, academics, and the general public.
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