First of all, make sure you're clear on the unemployment numbers you want.
~ Do you want just the number that's reported weekly?
~Or do you want to dig a little deeper and include that number plus the number of people who have stopped looking for work?
~ ... or who have dropped off the unempl lists but are still looking for work?
~ ... or who are "underemployed" (those who are working one or two part-time jobs or who are working well below their education/training level)?
I'd gather nationwide unemployment numbers for the following groups of people before speaking to anyone:
for blacks (male and female)
for black males
for black females
for whites
for white males
for white females
for Latinos
for Latino males
for Latino females
etc.
I'd also look at stats for unemployment in various states:
overall unemployment in
~ California
~ North Dakota
~ Texas
~ Alaska
~ ...
If you want to break down individual states by the black/white/Latino/etc categories, that might be interesting, too.
Once you see those numbers, you shouldn't have any problem coming up with questions!!
I have a data story to write on employment and in my city unemployment for blacks is double the amount it is for whites.. I'm suppose to speak with employment agencies and speak with them about this issue. Do you guys have any suggestions of any statistical questions I could ask them regarding this? I'm kind of stuck
3 answers
well we're suppose to go with the numbers strictly in our county and within the last 5 years its been an estimate of 11.5% for whites and 24.2% for blacks.. so maybe I should as of that number gap?
Only nationwide? I guess that's OK, but it also helps to see what's happening state by state.