What does this score mean?

A score of 100 represents racial equity, meaning there are no racial disparities in the outcomes between black and white populations. The lower the Equity Score, the greater the disparity.

For Unemployment, a score of 100 – a score reflecting racial equity – would mean black and white residents in St. Louis City are equally likely to experience unemployment. It is important to note that for this indicator, equity is not our only goal; we also want to improve outcomes for all.

WHAT DOES THIS ANALYSIS MEAN?

Black residents are over three times as likely as white residents to experience unemployment. The disparity is most pronounced in the City of St. Louis, where black residents are nearly five times more likely to be unemployed (13.1%) compared to white residents (2.7%). In St. Clair County, black residents are nearly four times as likely to be unemployed (10.9% relative to 3%), and in St. Louis County, black residents are nearly three times as likely to be unemployed (8% relative to 3%). In St. Charles County, black residents are about 19% more likely to be unemployed.

If the unemployment rate were equitable, there would be:

• 7,230 fewer unemployed black residents in the City of St. Louis,
• 48 fewer unemployed black residents in St. Charles County,
• 2,956 fewer unemployed black residents in St. Clair County, and
• 6,280 fewer unemployed black residents in St. Louis County.

Why Does Unemployment Matter?

There are both economic and psychological costs to unemployment. Jobs allow individuals to provide for themselves and their families and contribute productively to society. Long-term unemployment is found to negatively impact mental and physical health, resulting in greater incidence of stress-related health conditions and depression. In addition, the Ferguson Commission report highlighted the domino effect of pretrial detention and incarceration for minor charges or crimes on employment: “When jail time results in three or four days of missed work, it can result in the loss of employment, making it even more difficult to pay mounting fines and consequently to find another job.”

Which Calls to Action from the Ferguson Commission’s report are linked with this indicator?

The Ferguson Commission’s calls to action related to unemployment include:

• Enhance Collaboration Between Educational Institutions and Employers
• Ensure Employer-Educator Collaborations Build a Love of Learning
• Preferentially Fund Job Training Programs that Show Impact
• Implement a State Section 3 Hiring Program
• Launch Best Practice-Driven Job Training Programs
• Expand Funding for Job Training and Wage Support Programs
• Modify Procurements Systems to Encourage Hiring of Targeted Employees

Questions for Further Investigation:

• Why is there a racial disparity in Unemployment?
• What can St. Louis do to reduce racial disparities in Unemployment?
• What initiatives are currently underway to reduce racial disparities in Unemployment?

Unemployment Data