Asians, Blacks Still Hurt More In A Mixed Economy

By Tim | Tuesday, April 12, 2011 | 8 Comments

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Untitled 1 Asians, Blacks Still Hurt More In A Mixed Economy New unemployment numbers continue to show that Asians and Black Americans continue to lose ground, while whites and Hispanics are making up lost ground as the economy added 216,000 jobs in March. While the government claims America is in recovery, it’s hard news to swallow for many Asian Americans like my sister and my cousin, who are among the long term unemployed.

Both have been out of work for close to two years. What’s surprising about my family is that both of them are highly skilled professional workers, not the blue collar worker that many associate with those hit hardest by the recession. My sister is an architect and my cousin is a lawyer. They continue to search diligently for work, but there isn’t much in California if you aren’t a high tech worker.

Perhaps not surprising, is the news also about the United Kingdom where Blacks and Asians are twice as likely to be unemployed, and the situation for them is only expected to get worse, as public sector cuts are expected to hit these groups more disproportionately.

Unfortunately what this news shows is that while the economy may be getting better, it’s not as they say “lifting all boats.” Meanwhile, if you need an architect or a lawyer, send me the job opening, and I’ll pass it along.

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kurlykolly

Surprising, I just assumed that Asians and Whites were bouncing back faster than Blacks and Hispanics. Thanks for posting. “Never ASSume…”
TienVNguyen

I think a lot of it has to do with Asians not wanting to “downgrade” to other jobs like cashiers or waiters/waitresses.

Many people that are no longer unemployed only don’t count toward the rate because they take up these kinds of jobs and still be underemployed–but I think pride has a lot to do with it too. And it ought to be there.
timat8asians

@TienVNguyen That may be true, but my sister found a job that didn’t require her architect degree and took it, only to be let go within 3 months. It was a pay cut, but it would have gotten her health insurance if she made it past the 3 month mark.
DMan

@timat8asians @TienVNguyen Have they looked for work out of state (Out of CA) or out of the country perhaps back in Asia? We all have to hustle and stay current in our field? Like Tien mention is some of us have to take a pay cut from what we used to make. I have to look for another job in Network IT Support as my contract will be end soon.
timat8asians

@DMan @TienVNguyen they have looked in both northern and southern california and a little bit in neighboring states
aEnigma7345

Surprisingly, many of the unemployed Asians I know are those w/ degrees from top universities (Ivy League and the like) who were making six figures working in Wall Street, and the like.

I think Tien is right; a lot of Asians would rather stay unemployed then take a job that’s “beneath” them. I knew a Chinese guy from Harvard who was unemployed for a whole friggin’ year after getting laid off from Wall Street! He somehow weaseled his way to an MBA program from Columbia though. Don’t know how the hell he was able to explain his resume gap…though he did travel a lot. Had a lot of money to burn…

A lot of my highly-educated Asian friends tell me that actually getting laid off was a “blessing in disguise” b/c for the first time in their lives, they were able to simply relax and take a vacation. They talk about how they bust their balls in high school getting into Harvard, then busting their balls to get the six-figure Wall Street job. After getting laid off, this was probably the first time for many of these people in the sense that they actually have some down time. For the first time, they actually get to do whatever the hell they want. They could travel extensively. They could always pursue their passion in writing or the performing arts. And the like.
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