Racial Divide: U.S. Unemployment Rate Soars Among African Americans

While the national unemployment rate currently hovers around 9.1% the number of African Americans without jobs has soared much higher.

According to a recent CBS News report unemployment among African Americans has reached a national average of 16.2% while black males are experiencing an even higher divide at 17.5% of the population currently without jobs.

While the national average offers a scary divide, NYC has experienced the worst of a weakened economy with 34% of black men from the ages of 19 to 24 currently unemployed and 42% of teens currently not working.

According to some job counselors a major issue in African American communities is the lack of marketable skills offered by high schools and a low number of college bound students within the community.