Unemployment rate by race, 1972–2019
| B-W ratio | Black | White | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 2 | 10.4% | 5.1% |
| 1973 | 2.2 | 9.4 | 4.3 |
| 1974 | 2.1 | 10.5 | 5 |
| 1975 | 1.9 | 14.8 | 7.8 |
| 1976 | 2 | 14 | 7 |
| 1977 | 2.3 | 14 | 6.2 |
| 1978 | 2.5 | 12.8 | 5.2 |
| 1979 | 2.4 | 12.3 | 5.1 |
| 1980 | 2.3 | 14.3 | 6.3 |
| 1981 | 2.3 | 15.6 | 6.7 |
| 1982 | 2.2 | 18.9 | 8.6 |
| 1983 | 2.3 | 19.5 | 8.4 |
| 1984 | 2.4 | 15.9 | 6.5 |
| 1985 | 2.4 | 15.1 | 6.2 |
| 1986 | 2.4 | 14.5 | 6 |
| 1987 | 2.5 | 13 | 5.3 |
| 1988 | 2.5 | 11.7 | 4.7 |
| 1989 | 2.5 | 11.4 | 4.5 |
| 1990 | 2.4 | 11.4 | 4.8 |
| 1991 | 2 | 12.5 | 6.1 |
| 1992 | 2.2 | 14.2 | 6.6 |
| 1993 | 2.1 | 13 | 6.1 |
| 1994 | 2.2 | 11.5 | 5.3 |
| 1995 | 2.1 | 10.4 | 4.9 |
| 1996 | 2.2 | 10.5 | 4.7 |
| 1997 | 2.4 | 10 | 4.2 |
| 1998 | 2.3 | 8.9 | 3.9 |
| 1999 | 2.2 | 8 | 3.7 |
| 2000 | 2.2 | 7.6 | 3.5 |
| 2001 | 2 | 8.6 | 4.2 |
| 2002 | 2 | 10.2 | 5.1 |
| 2003 | 2.1 | 10.8 | 5.2 |
| 2004 | 2.2 | 10.4 | 4.8 |
| 2005 | 2.3 | 10 | 4.4 |
| 2006 | 2.2 | 8.9 | 4 |
| 2007 | 2 | 8.3 | 4.1 |
| 2008 | 1.9 | 10.1 | 5.2 |
| 2009 | 1.7 | 14.8 | 8.5 |
| 2010 | 1.8 | 16 | 8.7 |
| 2011 | 2 | 15.8 | 7.9 |
| 2012 | 1.9 | 13.8 | 7.2 |
| 2013 | 2 | 13.1 | 6.5 |
| 2014 | 2.1 | 11.3 | 5.3 |
| 2015 | 2.1 | 9.6 | 4.6 |
| 2016 | 2 | 8.4 | 4.3 |
| 2017 | 2 | 7.5 | 3.8 |
| 2018 | 1.9 | 6.5 | 3.5 |
| 2019 | 2 | 6.1 | 3 |
Note: Black and white are both non-Hispanic.
Source: 1972–2019 series by race & ethnicity, EPI analysis of monthly CPS microdata, downloaded from EPI SWA Data Library.