Percent distribution of black or African American labor force and total labor force by age, 2008
Percent distribution
Black or African American
Total (all races)
16-24 years
15.6
14.3
25-34 years
24.4
21.6
35-44 years
24.3
22.7
45-54 years
22.2
23.3
55-64 years
10.8
14.0
65 years & over
2.7
4.0
Black or African American employed persons and total employed persons, 16 years and over, by industry, 2008
Percent distribution
Black or African American
Total (all races)
Education and health services
27.9
21.6
Wholesale and retail trade
12.9
14.2
Manufacturing
9.5
10.9
Professional and business services
9.1
10.7
Leisure and hospitality
8.8
8.8
Transportation and utilities
7.7
5.3
Public administration
6.5
4.7
Financial activities
6.3
7.0
Other services
4.3
4.8
Construction
3.8
7.5
Information
2.6
2.4
Agriculture and related industries
0.3
1.5
Mining
0.3
0.6
Educational attainment of blacks or African Americans in the labor force, 25 to 64 years, March 1970 and March 2008 (percent distribution)
Year
Less than a high school diploma
High school graduates, no college
Some college or associate degree
Bachelor’s degree and higher
1970
56
28
8
8
2008
10
35
31
23
NOTE: Data for 1970 refer to the black and other races group; data for 2008 refer to persons who are black or African American only. Since 1992, data on educational attainment have been based on the "highest diploma or degree received," rather than the "number of years of school completed." Percents may not sum to 100 due to rounding.
Median usual weekly earnings of black or African American full-time wage and salary workers 25 years and over by educational attainment, 2008
Dollars
Bachelor’s degree and higher
912
Some college or associate degree
608
High school graduates, no college
515
Less than a high school diploma
408
Unemployment rates of blacks or African Americans age 25 years and over by educational attainment, 1998-2008 (percent)
Year
Less than a high school diploma
High school graduates, no college
Some college or associate degree
Bachelor's degree or higher
1998
11.6
7.4
5.1
2.9
1999
11.6
6.3
4.4
2.7
2000
10.7
6.4
4.0
2.5
2001
11.8
7.4
5.0
2.7
2002
13.3
8.8
6.7
4.2
2003
13.9
9.3
7.9
4.5
2004
15.5
8.7
7.6
4.3
2005
14.4
8.5
6.9
3.5
2006
12.8
8.0
6.2
2.8
2007
12.0
7.3
5.5
3.0
2008
14.5
9.3
7.4
4.0
Average time use of employed blacks or African Americans and all employed persons, 18 years and over, on workdays, 2007
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