National unemployment rate declines while African American unemployment rate increases

The Obama administration was quick to herald a drop in the nation’s unemployment rate last month from 10 percent to 9.7 percent. But everyone is not cheering. The unemployment rate for African Americans actually increased from 16.2 percent to 16.5 percent. The unemployment rate for black men rose from 16.6 percent to 17.6 percent. Nearly 44 percent of black teenagers who were looking for work could not find a job.

Higher education remains the best way to combat unemployment. Less than 5 percent of Americans with a college degree were unemployed in January.