U.S. Unemployment: December 2013 drops to 6.7%- White 5.9%, Black 11.9%

December 2013 drops to 6.7%
White 5.9%, Black 11.9%

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

The number of unemployed persons declined by 490,000 to 10.4 million
in December, and the unemployment rate declined by 0.3 percentage point
to 6.7 percent. Over the year, the number of unemployed persons and the
unemployment rate were down by 1.9 million and 1.2 percentage points,
respectively.

Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rates for adult men (6.3
percent) and whites (5.9 percent) declined in December. The rates for adult
women (6.0 percent), teenagers (20.2 percent), blacks (11.9 percent), and
Hispanics (8.3 percent) showed little change. The jobless rate for Asians
was 4.1 percent (not seasonally adjusted), down by 2.5 percentage points
over the year.

Among the unemployed, the number of job losers and persons who completed
temporary jobs decreased by 365,000 in December to 5.4 million. The number
of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks or more), at 3.9
million, showed little change; these individuals accounted for 37.7 percent
of the unemployed. The number of long-term unemployed has declined by 894,000
over the year.

The civilian labor force participation rate declined by 0.2 percentage
point to 62.8 percent in December, offsetting a change of the same
magnitude in November. In December, the employment-population ratio was
unchanged at 58.6 percent. The labor force participation rate declined by
0.8 percentage point over the year, while the employment-population ratio
was unchanged.

The number of persons employed part time for economic reasons (sometimes
referred to as involuntary part-time workers) was essentially unchanged at
7.8 million in December. These individuals were working part time because
their hours had been cut back or because they were unable to find full-
time work.

In December, 2.4 million persons were marginally attached to the labor force,
little changed from a year earlier. (The data are not seasonally adjusted.)
These individuals were not in the labor force, wanted and were available for
work, and had looked for a job sometime in the prior 12 months. They were not
counted as unemployed because they had not searched for work in the 4 weeks
preceding the survey.

Among the marginally attached, there were 917,000 discouraged workers
in December, down by 151,000 from a year earlier. Discouraged workers
are persons not currently looking for work because they believe no jobs
are available for them. The remaining 1.5 million persons marginally attached
to the labor force in December had not searched for work for reasons such as
school attendance or family responsibilities.

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U-6
A number of economists look past the “main” unemployment rate to a different figure the Bureau of Labor Statistics calls “U-6,” which it defines as “total unemployed, plus all marginally attached workers plus total employed part time for economic reasons, as a percent of all civilian labor force plus all marginally attached workers.”

Source: CNBC 

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The Great Recession by the numbers

Dilemma X

The Great Recession and the Global Financial Crisis began in December 2007. By December 2008 the unemployment rate reached 7.2% and reached its peak in October 2009 with an unemployment rate of 10.2%. The financial crisis was triggered by a complex problems in the United States banking system, the U.S. housing bubble and other financial failures.

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Video: December unemployment rate 6.7%

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Video: People dropping out of the workforce

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Past December unemployment rates:
December 2013 was 6.7% The number of unemployed persons was 10.4 million
December 2012 was 7.7% The number of unemployed persons was 12.2 million
December 2011 was 8.5% The number of unemployed persons was 13.1 million
December 2010 was 10.0% The number of unemployed persons was 15.3 million
December 2009 was 10.0% The number of unemployed persons was 15.4 million
December 2008 was 7.2% The number of unemployed persons was 11.1 million
December 2007 was 5.7% The number of unemployed persons was 7.7 million

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President Barack Obama assumed office January 20, 2009.
In January 2009 the number of unemployed persons was 11.6 million and the unemployment rate was 7.6%.

Unemployment peaked in October 2009 with an unemployment rate of 10.2% and 15.7 million unemployed persons.

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Between January 2009 and March, 2009 more than 2 million jobs were lost and 663,000 were lost in March 2009 alone. The number of unemployed persons increased to 13.2 million that month.
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George W. Bush served as the 43rd President of the United States from January 20, 2001 – January 20, 2009
December 2001 the nation’s unemployment rate was 5.8% with a total of 8.3 million unemployed persons. Unemployment rate was the following: whites 5.1% and for blacks 10.2%.  
December 2008 the nation’s unemployment rate was 7.2% with a total of 11.1 million unemployed persons. Unemployment rate was the following: whites 6.1% and for blacks 11.2%.
January 2009 the nation’s unemployment rate was 7.6% with a total of 11.6 million unemployed persons. For whites the unemployment rate was 6.9% and for African Americans it was 12.6%.

Bill Clinton served as the 42nd President of the United States from January 20, 1993 – January 20, 2001
December 1994 the nation’s unemployment rate was 5.4% with a total of 7.2 million unemployed persons. Unemployment rate was the following: whites 4.8% and for blacks 9.8%.  
In September 2000 the unemployment rate was 4.9%. This was the first time the nation’s unemployment rate had been below 4.0% since January 1970. Unemployment rate was the following: whites 3.5% and for blacks 7.0%.  
December 2000 the nation’s unemployment rate was 4.0% with a total of 5.7 million unemployed persons. Unemployment rate was the following: whites 3.5% and for blacks 7.6%. 
January 2001 the nation’s unemployment rate was 4.2%. The number of unemployed persons rose to 5.95 million. Unemployment rate was the following: whites 3.6% and for blacks 8.4%.  

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December 2013
African American unemployment
African American unemployment for December 2013 decreased to 11.9% (Seasonally adjusted)

African American unemployment for November 2013 was 12.5% (Seasonally adjusted)
African American unemployment for October 2013 was 13.1% (Seasonally adjusted)
African American unemployment for September 2013 was 12.9% (Seasonally adjusted)
African American unemployment for August 2013 was 13.0% (Seasonally adjusted)
African American unemployment for July 2013 was 12.6% (Seasonally adjusted)
African American unemployment for June 2013 was 13.7% (Seasonally adjusted)
African American unemployment for May 2013 was 13.5%(Seasonally adjusted)
African American unemployment for April 2013 was 13.2%(Seasonally adjusted)
African American unemployment for March 2013 was 13.3%(Seasonally adjusted)
African American unemployment for February 2013 was 13.8% (Seasonally adjusted)
African American unemployment for January 2013 was 13.8% (Seasonally adjusted)
African American unemployment for December 2012 was 14.0% (Seasonally adjusted)
African American unemployment for November 2012 was 13.2% (Seasonally adjusted)
African American unemployment for October 2012 was 14.3% (Seasonally adjusted)
African American unemployment for September 2012 was13.4% (Seasonally adjusted)
African American unemployment for August 2012 was 14.1% (Seasonally adjusted)
African American unemployment for July 2012 was 14.1% (Seasonally adjusted)
African American unemployment for June 2012 was 14.4% (Seasonally adjusted)
African American unemployment for May 2012 was 13.6% (Seasonally adjusted)
African American unemployment for April 2012 was 13.0% (Seasonally adjusted)
African American unemployment for March 2012 was 14.0% (Seasonally adjusted)
African American unemployment for February 2012 was 14.1% (Seasonally adjusted)
African American unemployment for January 2012 was 13.6% (Seasonally adjusted)
African American unemployment for December 2011 was to 15.8% (Seasonally adjusted)
African American unemployment for November 2011 was 15.5% (Seasonally adjusted)
African American unemployment for October 2011 was 15.0% (Seasonally adjusted)
African American unemployment for September 2011 was 15.9% (Seasonally adjusted)
African American unemployment for August 2011 was 16.7% (Seasonally adjusted)
African American unemployment for July 2011 was 15.9% (Seasonally adjusted)
African American unemployment for June 2011 was 16.2% (Seasonally adjusted)
African American unemployment for May 2011 was 16.2% (Seasonally adjusted)
African American unemployment for April 2011 was 16.1% (Seasonally adjusted)
African American unemployment for May 2010 was 15.3% (Seasonally adjusted)

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By Sex African American unemployment for men 20 years and over
December 2013 decreased to 11.5% (Seasonally adjusted)

November 2013 was 12.3% (Seasonally adjusted)
October 2013 was 13.0% (Seasonally adjusted)
September 2013 was 14.0% (Seasonally adjusted)
August 2013 was 13.5% (Seasonally adjusted)
July 2013 was 12.5% (Seasonally adjusted)
June 2013 was 13.7% (Seasonally adjusted)
May 2013 was 13.5% (Seasonally adjusted)
April 2013 was 13.2% (Seasonally adjusted)
March 2013 was 12.7% (Seasonally adjusted)
February 2013 was 12.9% (Seasonally adjusted)
January 2013 was 13.4% (Seasonally adjusted)
December 2012 was 14.0% (Seasonally adjusted)
November 2012 was 12.9% (Seasonally adjusted)
October 2012 was 14.1% (Seasonally adjusted)
September 2012 was 14.2% (Seasonally adjusted)
August 2012 was 14.3% (Seasonally adjusted)
July 2012 was 14.8% (Seasonally adjusted)
June 2012 was 14.2% (Seasonally adjusted)
May 2012 was 14.2% (Seasonally adjusted)
April 2012 was 13.6% (Seasonally adjusted)
March 2012 was 13.8% (Seasonally adjusted)
February 2012 was 14.3% (Seasonally adjusted)
January 2012 was 12.7% (Seasonally adjusted)
December 2011 was 15.7% (Seasonally adjusted)
November 2011 was 16.4% (Seasonally adjusted)
October 2011 was 16.0% (Seasonally adjusted)
September 2011 was 16.6% (Seasonally adjusted)
August 2011 was 18.0% (Seasonally adjusted)
July 2011 was 17.0% (Seasonally adjusted)
June 2011 was 17.0% (Seasonally adjusted)
May 2011 was 17.5% (Seasonally adjusted)
April 2011 was 17.0% (Seasonally adjusted)
May 2010 was 17.0% (Not seasonally adjusted)
September 2009 was 15.5% (Not seasonally adjusted)
August 2010 was at 17.3%

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African American unemployment for women 20 years and over
December 2013 decreased to 10.4% (Seasonally adjusted)

November 2013 was 11.1% (Seasonally adjusted)
October 2013 was 11.5% (Seasonally adjusted)
September 2013 was 10.0% (Seasonally adjusted)
August 2013 was 10.6% (Seasonally adjusted)
July 2013 was 10.5% (Seasonally adjusted)
June 2013 was 12.0% (Seasonally adjusted)
May 2013 was 11.2% (Seasonally adjusted)
April 2013 was 11.6% (Seasonally adjusted)
March 2013 was 12.2% (Seasonally adjusted)
February 2013 was 12.5% (Seasonally adjusted)
January 2013 was 12.3% (Seasonally adjusted)
December 2012 was 12.2% (Seasonally adjusted)
November 2012 was 11.5% (Seasonally adjusted)
October 2012 was 12.4% (Seasonally adjusted)
September 2012 was 10.9% (Seasonally adjusted)
August 2012 was 12.0% (Seasonally adjusted)
July 2012 was 11.5% (Seasonally adjusted)
June 2012 was 12.7% (Seasonally adjusted)
May 2012 was 11.4% (Seasonally adjusted)
April 2012 was 10.8% (Seasonally adjusted)
March 2012 was 12.3% (Seasonally adjusted)
February 2012 was 12.4% (Seasonally adjusted)
January 2012 was 12.6% (Seasonally adjusted)
December 2011 was 13.9% (Seasonally adjusted)
November 2011 was 13.0% (Seasonally adjusted)
October 2011 was 12.6% (Seasonally adjusted)
September 2011 was 13.2% (Seasonally adjusted)
August 2011 was 13.4% (Seasonally adjusted)
July 2011 was 13.4% (Seasonally adjusted)
June 2011 was 13.8% (Seasonally adjusted)
May 2011 was 13.4% (Seasonally adjusted)
April 2011 was 13.4% (Seasonally adjusted)
May 2010 was 12.0% (Not seasonally adjusted)
September 2009 was 13.4% (Not seasonally adjusted)
August 2010 was 13.2%

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African American unemployment for both sexes, 16 to 19 years
December 2013 decreased to 35.5% (Seasonally adjusted)

November 2013 was 35.8% (Seasonally adjusted)
October 2013 was 36.0% (Seasonally adjusted)
September 2013 was 35.1% (Seasonally adjusted)
August 2013 was 38.2% (Seasonally adjusted)
July 2013 was 41.6% (Seasonally adjusted)
June 2013 was 43.6% (Seasonally adjusted)
May 2013 was 42.6% (Seasonally adjusted)
Apil 2013 was 40.5% (Seasonally adjusted)
March 2013 was 33.8% (Seasonally adjusted)
February 2013 was 43.1% (Seasonally adjusted)
January 2013 was 37.8% (Seasonally adjusted)
December 2012 was 40.5% (Seasonally adjusted)
November 2012 was 39.4% (Seasonally adjusted)
October 2012 was 40.5% (Seasonally adjusted)
September 2012 was 36.7% (Seasonally adjusted)
August 2012 was 37.9% (Seasonally adjusted)
July 2012 was 36.6% (Seasonally adjusted)
June 2012 was 39.3% (Seasonally adjusted)
May 2012 was 36.5% (Seasonally adjusted)
April 2012 was 38.2% (Seasonally adjusted)
March 2012 was 40.5% (Seasonally adjusted)
February 2012 was 34.7% (Seasonally adjusted)
January 2012 was 38.5% (Seasonally adjusted)
December 2011 was 42.1% (Seasonally adjusted)
November 2011 was 39.6% (Seasonally adjusted)
October 2011 was 37.5% (Seasonally adjusted)
September 2011 was 43.6% (Seasonally adjusted)
August 2011 was 46.3% (Seasonally adjusted)
July 2011 was 39.2% (Seasonally adjusted)
June 2011 was 39.9% (Seasonally adjusted)
May 2011 was 40.7% (Seasonally adjusted)
April 2011 was 41.6% (Seasonally adjusted)
May 2010 was 38.4% (Not seasonally adjusted)
September 2009 was 40.7% (Not seasonally adjusted)
August 2010 was 45.4%

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December 2013
White unemployment
White unemployment for December 2013 decreased to 5.9% (Seasonally adjusted)

White unemployment for November 2013 was 6.2% (Seasonally adjusted)
White unemployment for October 2013 was 6.3% (Seasonally adjusted)
White unemployment for September 2013 was 6.3% (Seasonally adjusted)
White unemployment for August 2013 was 6.4% (Seasonally adjusted)
White unemployment for July 2013 was 6.6% (Seasonally adjusted)
White unemployment for June 2013 was 6.6% (Seasonally adjusted)
White unemployment for May 2013 was 6.7% (Seasonally adjusted)
White unemployment for April 2013 was 6.7% (Seasonally adjusted)
White unemployment for March 2013 was 6.7% (Seasonally adjusted)
White unemployment for February 2013 was 6.8% (Seasonally adjusted)
White unemployment for January 2013 was 7.0% (Seasonally adjusted)
White unemployment for December 2012 was 6.9% (Seasonally adjusted)
White unemployment for November 2012 was 6.8% (Seasonally adjusted)
White unemployment for October 2012 was 7.0% (Seasonally adjusted)
White unemployment for September 2012 was 7.0% (Seasonally adjusted)
White unemployment for August 2012 was 7.2% (Seasonally adjusted)
White unemployment for July 2012 was 7.4% (Seasonally adjusted)
White unemployment for June 2012 was 7.4% (Seasonally adjusted)
White unemployment for May 2012 was 7.4% (Seasonally adjusted)
White unemployment for April 2012 was 7.4% (Seasonally adjusted)
White unemployment for March 2012 was 7.3% (Seasonally adjusted)
White unemployment for February 2012 was 7.3% (Seasonally adjusted)
White unemployment for January 2012 was 7.4% (Seasonally adjusted)
White unemployment for December 2011 was 7.5% (Seasonally adjusted)
White unemployment for November 2011 was 7.6% (Seasonally adjusted)
White unemployment for October 2011 was 8.0% (Seasonally adjusted)
White unemployment for September 2011 was 7.9% (Seasonally adjusted)
White unemployment for August 2011 was 7.9% (Seasonally adjusted)
White unemployment for July 2011 was 7.9% (Seasonally adjusted)
White unemployment for June 2011 was 8.1% (Seasonally adjusted)
White unemployment for May 2011 was 7.9% (Seasonally adjusted)
White unemployment for May 2010 was 8.4% (Seasonally adjusted)
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By Sex White unemployment for men 20 years and over
December 2013 decreased to 5.6% (Seasonally adjusted)

November 2013 was 6.0% (Seasonally adjusted)
October 2013 was 6.2% (Seasonally adjusted)
September 2013 was 6.1% (Seasonally adjusted)
August 2013 was 6.2% (Seasonally adjusted)
July 2013 was 6.3% (Seasonally adjusted)
June 2013 was 6.2% (Seasonally adjusted)
May 2013 was 6.4% (Seasonally adjusted)
April 2013 was 6.4% (Seasonally adjusted)
March 2013 was 6.1% (Seasonally adjusted)
February 2013 was 6.3% (Seasonally adjusted)
January 2013 was 6.6% (Seasonally adjusted)
December 2012 was 6.2% (Seasonally adjusted)
November 2012 was 6.4% (Seasonally adjusted)
October 2012 was 6.6% (Seasonally adjusted)
September 2012 was 6.6% (Seasonally adjusted)
August 2012 was 6.8% (Seasonally adjusted)
September 2012 was % (Seasonally adjusted)
July 2012 was 6.9% (Seasonally adjusted)
June 2012 was 7.0% (Seasonally adjusted)
May 2012 was 7.0% (Seasonally adjusted)
April 2012 was 6.8% (Seasonally adjusted)
March 2012 was 6.8% (Seasonally adjusted)
February 2012 was 6.8% (Seasonally adjusted)
January 2012 was 6.9% (Seasonally adjusted)
December 2011 was 7.1% (Seasonally adjusted)
November 2011 was 7.3% (Seasonally adjusted)
October 2011 was 7.8% (Seasonally adjusted)
September 2011 was 7.7% (Seasonally adjusted)
August 2011 was 7.7% (Seasonally adjusted)
July 2011 was 7.9% (Seasonally adjusted)
June 2011 was 8.1% (Seasonally adjusted)
May 2011 was 7.9% (Seasonally adjusted)
April 2011 was 7.9% (Seasonally adjusted)
May 2010 was 8.4% (Not seasonally adjusted)
September 2009 was 8.7% (Not seasonally adjusted)
August 2010 was 8.9%

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White unemployment for women unemployment 20 years and over
December 2013 remained to 5.3% (Seasonally adjusted)

November 2013 was 5.3% (Seasonally adjusted)
October 2013 was 5.5% (Seasonally adjusted)
September 2013 was 5.5% (Seasonally adjusted)
August 2013 was 5.5% (Seasonally adjusted)
July 2013 was 5.8% (Seasonally adjusted)
June 2013 was 6.0% (Seasonally adjusted)
May 2013 was 5.8% (Seasonally adjusted)
April 2013 was 5.7% (Seasonally adjusted)
March 2013 was 6.1% (Seasonally adjusted)
February 2013 was 6.0% (Seasonally adjusted)
January 2013 was 6.4% (Seasonally adjusted)
December 2012 was 6.3% (Seasonally adjusted)
November 2012 was 6.2% (Seasonally adjusted)
October 2012 was 6.3% (Seasonally adjusted)
September 2012 was 6.3% (Seasonally adjusted)
August 2012 was 6.5% (Seasonally adjusted)
July 2012 was 6.8% (Seasonally adjusted)
June 2012 was 6.6% (Seasonally adjusted)
May 2012 was 6.7% (Seasonally adjusted)
April 2012 was 6.8% (Seasonally adjusted)
March 2012 was 6.6% (Seasonally adjusted)
February 2012 was 6.8% (Seasonally adjusted)
January 2012 was 6.8% (Seasonally adjusted)
December 2011 decreased to 6.8% (Seasonally adjusted)
November 2011 was 6.9% (Seasonally adjusted)
October 2011 was 7.0% (Seasonally adjusted)
September 2011 was 7.1% (Seasonally adjusted)
August 2011 was 7.0% (Seasonally adjusted)
July 2011 was 7.0% (Seasonally adjusted)
June 2011 was 7.1% (Seasonally adjusted)
May 2011 was 7.1% (Seasonally adjusted)
April 2011 was 7.0% (Seasonally adjusted)
May 2010 was 7.0% (Not seasonally adjusted)
September 2009 was 7.2% (Not seasonally adjusted)
August 2010 was 7.1%

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White unemployment for both sexes, 16 to 19 years
November 2013 decreased to 18.0% (Seasonally adjusted)

November 2013 was 18.6% (Seasonally adjusted)
October 2013 was 19.4% (Seasonally adjusted)
September 2013 was 19.3% (Seasonally adjusted)
August 2013 was 19.3% (Seasonally adjusted)
July 2013 was 20.5% (Seasonally adjusted)
June 2013 was 20.4% (Seasonally adjusted)
May 2013 was 21.6% (Seasonally adjusted)
April 2013 was 21.8% (Seasonally adjusted)
March 2013 was 22.5% (Seasonally adjusted)
February 2013 was 22.1% (Seasonally adjusted)
January 2013 was 20.8% (Seasonally adjusted)
December 2012 was 21.6% (Seasonally adjusted)
November 2012 was 20.2% (Seasonally adjusted)
October 2012 was 20.6% (Seasonally adjusted)
September 2012 was 21.2% (Seasonally adjusted)
August 2012 was 22.8% (Seasonally adjusted)
July 2012 was 21.5% (Seasonally adjusted)
June 2012 was 20.9% (Seasonally adjusted)
May 2012 was 22.0% (Seasonally adjusted)
April 2012 was 22.8% (Seasonally adjusted)
March 2012 was 22.5% (Seasonally adjusted)
February 2012 was 21.3% (Seasonally adjusted)
January 2012 was 21.1% (Seasonally adjusted) D
ecember 2011 was 20.3% (Seasonally adjusted)
November 2011 was 21.3% (Seasonally adjusted)
October 2011 was 21.7% (Seasonally adjusted)
September 2011 was 21.2% (Seasonally adjusted)
August 2011 was 22.8% (Seasonally adjusted)
July 2011 was 23.0% (Seasonally adjusted)
June 2011 was 21.8% (Seasonally adjusted)
May 2011 was 20.7% (Seasonally adjusted)
April 2011 was 22.3% (Seasonally adjusted)
May 2010 was 25.1% (Not seasonally adjusted)
September 2009 was 23.0% (Not seasonally adjusted)
August 2010 was 23.8%
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Seasonally Adjusted
Not Seasonally Adjusted
Seasonal adjustmentis a statistical method for removing the seasonal component of a time series used when analyzing non-seasonal trends. Whereas, not-seasonally-adjusted reflects the actual current data. It is normal to report not-seasonally-adjusted data for current unemployment rates. Seasonally adjusted data may be used for the longer term comparison. Total employment and unemployment vary throughout the year. For example,higher unemployment in January and February isn’t uncommon because of work in agriculture, construction and other seasonal industries slowing down. Also, both employment and unemployment rise every June, when students enter the labor force in search of summer jobs. Seasonally adjusted numbers also take into account seasonal hiring/layoff patterns that go along with winter and summer holidays.

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