The Unemployment Rate For African-Americans Was 15.7 Percent, For Hispanics It Was 11.9 Percent And For Whites It Was 8 Percent. The Figures Are Taken From The Bureau Of Labor Statistics.
Pasadena, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/23/2011 -- The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) held a public meeting on Wednesday to discuss discrimination against unemployed people.
One of the common complaints the EEOC officials heard was the practice of employers asking only currently employed or recently laid off people to apply. The nonprofits present there said that this move adversely affects women and minorities. Both groups have higher levels of unemployment and take a longer time to get a new job than the national average for unemployed people. The unemployment rate for African-Americans was 15.7 percent, for Hispanics it was 11.9 percent and for whites it was 8 percent. The figures are taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The representatives for businesses however denied any such policy of avoiding jobless applicants while hiring. Fernan R. Cepero, of the Society for Human Resource Management, said that his organization was unaware of any such policies being practiced on a widespread basis. James Urban, a lawyer from Jones Day law firm which represents employers, brought with him the “Help Wanted” sections of several major metro newspapers. This was to show that none of them had any job postings which excluded the jobless from applying.
But jobless advocates pointed out to several job listings online and in local papers that said that the applicant had to be currently employed or recently unemployed, the usual period being 1 to 4 months. EEOC commissioners said that they may review whether the agency should look into the matter. If EEOC rules that employers are discriminating in this manner, it may trigger several lawsuits against the employers it finds guilty.
CEO A. Harrison Barnes of Hound says that even if some employers do discriminate against the jobless while hiring, most employers will try to find the best candidate for their organization. Hound, a job search engine, has been able to find 180,000 job openings from employer websites in the last seven days. The list includes all states and every major job category.