Posted by Joseph Y. Calhoun, III

The New York Times has an interesting graphic that shows how different demographic groups have fared in the recession. Some interesting facts:

• The unemployment rate for high school graduates of all races, men and women, all ages is 9.1%. Without a high school diploma the rate is 17.5%. Finish high school for God’s sake.
• The unemployment rate for high school graduate, black,  men and women, ages 15 to 24 is 23.1%. For white of the same demographic the rate is 12.8% and for all races 14.7%. Racism? Difference in quality of schools? I don’t know but the difference is enough that we ought to be finding out. And raising the minimum wage had to have an effect. Should we have a lower minimum wage for entry level jobs?
• The unemployment rate for all races, men and women, all ages, college graduate is 4.5%. Get a degree for God’s sake. 

This recession has hit young, uneducated minorities especially hard, but is that different than any other recession? I don’t have statistics, but my guess is no. If you do the right things, you are generally rewarded. Stay in school, get a degree and you’ll likely have a job.