The Impact of a Tight Labor Market on Black Employment Problems
IS THE ECONOMIC BOOM COLOR-BLIND?
Many commentators believe that the benefits of a tight labor market will eventually filter down to all Americans, thus ameliorating some of the persistent employment problems faced by black men and women. Others fear that pockets of the labor market could remain relatively untouched by growth in the economy overall. Black workers may miss out on job opportunities because of deep-seated, structural impediments, such as mismatches between their skills and the requirements of new jobs, prohibitive distances between home and work, or discriminatory hiring practices. Robert Cherry of Brooklyn College received a grant for an interdisciplinary conference which will discuss how African Americans are faring in today's tight labor market. The conference and the resulting volume will discuss the impact of strong labor demand on black employment and earnings, as well as looking at wider social issues, such as racial discrimination, teenage childbearing, welfare use, job competition from immigrants, and crime.