Future of Work in Black America
McKinsey Consulting has a October 2019 article on where the jobs will be in the future. They report that Black people are poorly positioned to take advantage of new jobs and new locations. The study looks at occupation and geographic effects of automation.
The study documents how African Americans are in industries likely to be affect by automation. The good news is that geographically, Black people are well positioned for new jobs.
The authors suggest education and retraining to manage the transition.
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Color of Wealth in Los Angles
This is an old study from 2016 by the Federal Reserve in San Francisco on the wealth of different California populations. It is a really good detailed study of wealth and assets in Los Angeles. The conclusion is that African Americans in Los Angles have close to zero wealth. It includes a category called "African Black" for comparison.
Report has some interesting tidbits. Between 2000 and 2014, the Asian Indian population jump 117% in California and 60% in LA while the Black population had 0% increase statewide and -10% decrease in LA.
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Another Zero Black Wealth Story
Institute for Policies Studies also has a zero Black wealth study. This one is from September 2017.
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Work Opportunity Tax Credit
I recently filled out an application for Bed, Bath and Beyond based in Union, NJ. They sent back a survey for the Work Opportunity Tax Credit. The WOTC gives a tax credit if you hire someone from a targeted group "that has faced significant barriers to employment.
The groups of people includes the following people Veterans, ex-felons, people get TANF, people between 18 and 40 who live in an empowerment zone, opportunity zone or renewal community, physical or mental disability, summer youth employment from opportunity zone, SNAP recipient, SSI recipient, family on long term family assistance, and long -term unemployed.
It was part of the PATH tax bill which updates business tax breaks every two year.
You can see the areas covered by empowerment zones on the IRS website.
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Keeping it too real in the HR department
From April 2019, Cynet Systems was busted for post a job ad that specifically said "Preferably Caucasian"
https://diversity.com/blog/preferably-caucasian/
https://www.businessinsider.com/hiring-company-apology-preferably-caucasian-applicants-2019-4
https://www.cynetsystems.com/
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Black lottery winner reinvests in the community
https://www.theroot.com/black-lottery-winner-invests-winnings-into-rebuilding-f-1820392458
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Role Models
I teach computers in a predominately Spanish speaking high school. I have a long running contest for finding a Latina or Spanish speaking woman who is recognized in technology. And the person must be Afro-Latino.
Me and my students have cumulatively spent hours on this search only to come up empty handed.
Well at least people are writing about the issue. Reveal has a long piece about secret diversity data in silicon vally.
https://www.revealnews.org/article/hidden-figures-how-silicon-valley-keeps-diversity-data-secret/
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Good old general inequality
The Congressional Budget Office has the graphs.
https://www.cbo.gov/system/
