Long-term unemployment has managed to plunder the ranks of the middle class, but even far worse, its become a normal for many U.S. citizens; specifically African-Americans.
In 2011, African-American men filled about 237,000 jobs, and African-American women where hired less frequently, although the men still have an overall higher unemployment rate, according to a Department of Labor report. At one point, African-American unemployment reached 16.7 percent, the highest its been since 1984.
This is something Dan Clark knows well. Clark is unemployed for the fourth time since 2007. His longest stint of not working has been 33 weeks (the national average is 42).
"It feels like all I've got are job opportunities in the public sector, but even that is drying up" he said. "I don't have the skills to do office work, or the education; that's why I support Obama's Jobs Act." He says, at least with the Jobs Bill he would the job training to dream higher."
He's referring to one of President Obama's American Jobs Act. According to Obama, the Jobs Act will put more people back to work and put more money in the pockets of working Americans. The President believes the Act will strengthen the middle class.
Clark is 51 years old, been out of prison for the last twelve years, and completed his probation in Maryland in 2003. From 2002 to 2007, he worked for the same construction company, but after his landlord increased his rent, he decided to move to DC to live with his cousin to save money. Shortly after moving to D.C. he was laid off, and things have been difficult every since then.
Democrats in Congress are promoting that the growing divide between the "haves" and the "have nots" is a direct result between the growth in income inequality in the nation. Council of Economic Advisers Chairman Alan Krueger remarked last week that inequality is now causing an unhealthy division in opportunities and is posing a threat to economic growth.
African-Americans make up 14 percent of the U.S. population, yet accounted for only 9 percent of the nation's job gains during 2011.
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