More Than Half of Black College Graduates Underemployed

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http://www.alternet.org/education/more-half-black-college-graduates-underemployed



Going to college is supposed to be the big ticket to a prosperous life, but for minority students, this particular American dream can be very elusive.

In a new study, the Center for Economic Policy and Research finds that recent black college grads (aged 22-27) have an unemployment rate of 12.4 percent. That's over double the number for college grads in the same demographic and it's nearly a threefold increase from pre-Recession levels in 2007.

A whopping 55.9 percent — more than half of black grads — are underemployed, taking jobs far below their education level. "In eight of the thirteen major categories," the researchers write, "black recent college graduates that did find a job were more likely to end up in a job that did not require a four year degree than in one that did." And such jobs, such as those in the restaurant and retail sectors, are increasingly low-paying.

Even black grads entering the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields, where employees are both highly sought and highly paid, suffer a 10 percent unemployment rate and a 32 percent underemployment rate.