Unemployment Rate Falls for Some, Rises for Others

Experts had predicted another staggering loss of jobs in the U.S. for the month of May. However, roughly 2.5 million jobs were created, bringing the national unemployment rate from nearly 15 percent down to 13 percent. Discrepancies in which jobs were created, and who received them, tell a more clear picture.

While the unemployment rate declined nationally from 14.7 percent to 13.3 percent, the rate for black and Asian Americans increased between April and May. Black Americans’ unemployment rate rose from 16.7 percent to 16.8 percent, while Asian Americans’ rate rose from 14.5 percent to 15 percent.

Whites and Hispanics received the majority of jobs in May. The unemployment rate for white Americans went from 14.2 percent in April to 12.4 percent, while the rate for Hispanic Americans went from 18.9 percent in April to 17.6 percent.

One of the hardest-hit industries by COVID-19 restrictions is seeing a surge in re-hiring as lockdowns are lifted across the world. Leisure and hospitality saw over 1.2 million jobs created in May, far outpacing other industries. Construction and education and health services were second and third, with over 400,000 jobs created for each. Government workers continued to be one of the few industries seeing steep declines, with over half a million jobs lost in May.