Latino unemployment rises to 6.0 in September

*You’ll hear reports that the employment picture in the U.S. is getting better, and it is, overall. But when you dive in to the Latino employment numbers, there’s another story. VL

By Victor Landa, NewsTaco

The headlines concerning September unemployment levels will read that the U.S. economy created 156,000 jobs last month. And that’s an accurate statement. There’s more:

• This year the average monthly job growth has been 178,000.
• The September unemployment rate is 5.0 percent.
• Professional and business services employment rose by 67,000 in September.
• Health care added 33,000 jobs in September.
• Employment in food services and drinking places increased by 300,000 over the year. Retail trade employment continued to trend up over the month (+22,000).

But the numbers aren’t as rosy in the Latino community. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which released the September employment numbers this morning, the Latino unemployment rate rose from 5.6 in August to 6.0 in September.

• 1.7 million Latinos were out of work in September.
• That’s up from 1.5 million in August.
• The unemployment rate for Latinas is 6.4.
• That’s 707,000 Latinas with no work.
• For Latin@s between 16 and 19 years of age the unemployment rate is 18.5.
• 202,000 young Latin@s are out of work.
• The overall Latino participation rate, meaning folks who are in the workforce, is 66.1.

The good news? 25.3 million Latinos are working.