The Indians Abroad

Overseas Living: NRIs & India abroad

Archive for category Jobs and Occupations

Study India Programme (SIP) for NRIs and PIOs

Jan 15

Posted by admin in career planning, India, india abroad, Jobs and Occupations, Non-Resident Indian | 1 Comment

Study India Programme (SIP) for Non-Resident Indians and Persons of Indian Origin

The Study India Programme (SIP) is sponsored by the Government of India – The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs. The program invites the youth of Indian diaspora living abroad. Think of it as a summer school course in an Indian University, a lot different social experience compared to America or Europe.  The foreign citizens of Indian origin in the age-group of 18-26 years can apply and qualify for the short term courses that familiarize them with the Indian art, culture, heritage, history, emerging economy and overall development of India. Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs websites states, “Such short term courses shall aim at providing an opportunity to the overseas Indian youth to better understand and appreciate contemporary India, foster closer ties with the land of their ancestors and enhance their engagement with India.”

According to the site, “The participants are selected based on recommendations received from Heads of India Missions / Posts abroad. Selected participants are provided with full hospitality in India for the duration of the Programme. 50% of the cost of air ticket by economy class (Direct flight) is refundable to the participants on successful completion of the Programme…” Read the rest of this entry »

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Just a job

Nov 23

Posted by admin in Consciousness & Awareness, Culture & Society, Entertainment, India, india abroad, Jobs and Occupations, Non-Resident Indian, NRI, Short Story | 5 Comments

He checked his Gmail account again. There were a few more responses to his online resume submissions, basically acknowledging the receipt of the job applications and a promise that ‘your resume is on file for future openings’. He has been getting these meaningless replies for the last one year, since he arrived in USA.

Back home in India, everyone had told him that it was very easy to get an engineering job in America. “You can make lots of money in a few years”, His future father-in-law told him at the time of his engagement 3 years ago. A year after that, he was married to Anu.

He had big dream; after all, nobody dreams small. Once in US, he was greeted by his wife and her family and they welcome him into their home. His old classmates, now living within driving distance, came to visit him.
He was treated like a guest for many months. However, he soon realized, you cannot be a guest for too long. He had to figure out the next step – the job. With all the expenses and cost of living, he needed a job soon. His parents and siblings back home were already calling to check on him; to see when he might send them some money like every other NRI does.

He was very optimistic about his career in USA, so was the rest of his American family – his in-laws. Just like any typical Indian family, everybody was full of advice:
“You can easily find an Engineering job in your field.. no problem for a smart guy like you…”
“There is no shortage of work for Indian Engineers…this is just the fact…”
“You will find something – something good, very soon….”

After a few months, the tone of the advice changed:
“You just need to try a bit harder, maybe try something in lower pay scale to gain some experience…”
“Find a way to get your foot in the door…”
“My cousin started as a technician; now he is the director of engineering…but they are not hiring…”
“You cannot give up…We never give up…”
“You will find something – may be not that good but something… something good….”

The time went by; ‘something good’ was still illusive after a full year of job hunt. Anu was very understanding all along. She had told him that it would not be easy, but he never thought it would be a slow torture like that.
Then the pessimism kicked in… the justification from every side, from everyone:
“Economy is bad…it is not your fault”
“There are no good jobs in this economy…”
“May be you can try something part time…”
“Have you thought about trying something different?…”
“You can work at McDonald’s for now….”
“just start with something, it is ‘just a job’ after all!….”
Yes, there was no shortage of advice and guidance……. Read the rest of this entry »

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Her first job in America

Oct 31

Posted by admin in Culture & Society, India, india abroad, Jobs and Occupations, Non-Resident Indian, NRI, Short Story | No Comments

Hira Patel almost jumped out of his large wooden chair as the phone rang.
“Hello” he reached over and answered in his pronounced Indian accent. The warm air from the small electric heater had made him sleepy; he did not realize he was dozing off.
“Hello Patel Ji, This is Rajiv;.. Rajiv Desai!”
“Oh, hi!” Hira said, trying to control a yawn.
“I was going to stop by this morning….if that’s okay with you.”
“Are you going to bring the girl with you?” He asked right away.
There was some silence at the other end, “ I was not planning on it!”
“Okay, come on over, we can talk!”
He got out of the chair, almost dragging himself out slowly. His dark brown shirt was tucked into khaki rumpled pants over his protruding belly. The receding hairline made him look much older than his age.
He looked out of the window into the deserted parking lot. Then, checked the coffee level in the coffee pot and walked back to the chair and yawned. Slowly leaning back, he slumped back into the chair.

“It is so chilly outside, and it is not even December yet!” Rajiv said as he pushed open the door and walked in.
“Yes, the winter is coming! How are you, Desai Sahib?”
“I am good, not bad. How is the business?”
“Slow, very slow! Nobody is spending like good old days!”
Hira pointed his hand to the empty wooden chair that Rajiv was already walking towards.
“Do you want some coffee? It is freshly made.”
“No, no!” Rajiv looked at the big coffee pot in the corner, with white plastic cups and a sugar jar sitting next to it.

“My wife said she saw you this week-end!” Rajiv asked, while rubbing his cold hands.
“Yes, I ran into her at the temple!”
“So, you already have met Henna then!”
“Yes, she was there with your wife, on Sunday!”
“yes, she is slowly adapting to this country.”
“Your wife said that she wanted pursue studies!”
“You mean Henna? Yes, she does; but who can afford the tuition in this economy!”
“A lovely young woman. There is something about Gujrati girls, natural beauty!” Hira said admiringly.
“No doubt! Natural beauty!” Rajiv agreed after a very brief pause.
Then, there was an awkward silence for a few seconds. Rajiv tried to drag his chair towards Hira, making a screeching sound in the process! The heavy chair moved only by a few inches.
“So what do you think? Did you give any thought to our discussion from last week?”
“Yes, I have!” Hira replied in a firm tone.
Rajiv waited for Hira to continue, but there was a long pause.
Hira spoke,finally, “Well, she can come over this week-end and I can train her! She needs to learn the American ways, you know! I think she has not left your house since she came from India, so this is going to be a big change!”
“I know, this is not easy for me either. My wife does not even know about it!” Read the rest of this entry »

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Are you in the right Job or occupation? The Monday morning test!

Aug 28

Posted by admin in Business, career planning, Consciousness & Awareness, Jobs and Occupations, personal development | No Comments

Jobs and occupations – Evaluating your current work options!

Tokyo Women’s Medical University study, published in the American Journal of Hypertension, shows that many workers suffer a significant increase in blood pressure as they return to the office after the weekend.

Other researches show that the most common day for heart attacks is Monday. Statistics spike on Monday mornings, in particular, since heart attacks occur between 4 a.m. and 10 a.m. more than any other six-hour period.

How much do you really like your job or occupation? How you feel on Monday morning may be the real test of your career choice and the occupation. There are very few who enjoy waking up Monday morning, looking forward to the work. After a relaxing weekend, very few want to go back to the job routine. After all, as name says it all, work is just that – work!

Most of us work for livelihood, and there is no choice but finding a way to make the living. There are very few who have combined their work with their favorite hobby. If your work is also your hobby, well then you don’t know much about the Monday morning blues!

How stressed you are on Monday morning may be the real test of your carrier choice – how well you like your job and the work-place. If you feel like having a heart attack every Monday, or every other day for that matter, then you should certainly reconsider your work options – find a way to deal with the stress more effectively or look for a different job. After all, health should come before work, or that is how it should be prioritized.

It is easier said than done, but it is not impossible! Read the rest of this entry »

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USA welcomes prospective students from India

Aug 13

Posted by admin in career planning, India, india abroad, Jobs and Occupations, Non-Resident Indian, NRI, personal development | No Comments

United States welcomes prospective Indian students
US Embassy Press release; July 28, 2011, New Delhi

“The United States is proud of its record of welcoming foreign students, and in particular the numerous Indian students who enrich America’s academic communities. The number of Indian students who have applied for visas to study in the United States increased by 20% over the same period last year. This increase is an indication of the dynamism of the Indo-U.S. partnership and the strong people-to-people ties between the two nations. It also reflects the desire of high quality Indian students to pursue a world-class education in the U.S.

Prospective students are strongly encouraged to take advantage of the free resources offered by the U.S. government and fully research the academic options available to them. The Embassy is to provide accurate, free information that allows students and their families to research schools and to protect themselves from visa fraud rings. All legitimate students have a fair chance to study in the U.S.

As always, the U.S. government urges all prospective students to fully research their chosen educational institutes and have a firm grasp of what is and is not permitted under a student visa. In particular, all students must be aware that any of the following will result in an immediate violation of status:

  • Lack of physical attendance at classes (taking only online courses is not acceptable)
  • Failure to maintain a full courseload
  • Unauthorized employment

Violating the terms of a visa can result in deportation, arrest and even a bar on future travel to the United States. If any educational advisor or academic organization suggests that such actions are permissible under a student visa, we strongly recommend students contact the Embassy immediately in order to prevent committing visa fraud. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that he or she is in accordance with the law. Read the rest of this entry »

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NBC’s ‘Outsourced’ – A hilarious culture clash or offensive?

Dec 8

Posted by admin in Culture & Society, India, Jobs and Occupations, Non-Resident Indian, NRI | 8 Comments

Many call this a strange or bold move form NBC, but it is more of a commonsense if you think about it – controversial shows get the attention from public and media alike. Thursday’s prime-time lineup from NBC includes ‘Outsourced’ – a comic satire on Indian culture through the eyes of American and Western office managers. Nothing original, but different!

The show in itself is hilarious, if you take it with a grain of salt. The Indian way of thinking, the Indian traditions, the office habits of local workers and how we perceive Americans – all on display in half an hour weekly comedy that is lighthearted and fun to watch.

The premise of ‘Outsourced’ is based on an an Indian call center in Mumbai selling American novelties. According to NBC, the Outsourced revolves around “the all-American company Mid America Novelties whose call center has suddenly been outsourced to India and a manager, played by Ben Rappaport, is being transferred to India to run the operation…”

The weekly sitcom touches on a variety of social and cultural Indian issues including arranged marriage, a young woman working in the call center to support her parents, how Indians view the American women, the Indian Accent and the fake American accent….

The half an hour sitcom, actually about 20 minutes in total if you take out the commercials in between, has very natural and down to earth style of exposing the cultural differences. The show may not have the same appeal to some the Indian audience, especially those who are not intimate with American lifestyle. For example, there are dialogues like:
“…I never imagined that I will be taking to beautiful women from exotic places like Fresno and Des Moines…!” Manmeet says in one episode, who is always fascinated with American girls and spends more time flirting over the phone than selling the novelties. If you live in US, you know that there is not a whole lot exotic about Fresno or Des Moines, actually quite the opposite. So, you need first-hand American knowledge to understand some of the humor. Read the rest of this entry »

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A summary of job search tips and new business ideas

Nov 18

Posted by admin in career planning, Jobs and Occupations, personal development | 1 Comment


A good job is hardest to find when you really need one! Th psychological pressure of job hunt takes its own toll; the  emotional stress alone  is hard enough to deal with.

So, how do you go about looking for a job? Do you send out you resumes to every company within your areas of expertise and then sit back and hope for an interview call? Are you the kind of person who goes out and talk to the businesses, handing out your resumes, filling up application forms and calling back regularly for an update? Or you just apply online, and then check your email for the response every hour?

Everybody is different, everyone has his or her own way of doing things. same goes for the job search. Some try and try regardless, while others get discouraged more easily.Th knowledge is power. More you know about the ins-and-outs of job search, less nervous and less stressed you will be.

The intent of this article is to share some good resources on job search information and new business ideas, some additional tools that you may or may not have explored before.  Armed with the information, you can go about your job hunt, in your own way.

Who is hiring?: It is always good to know which businesses are hiring lately or which jobs are in high demand. These article below are a good place to start:

  • Jobs and Occupations in highest demand in USA: 2006 to 2016
  • 25 Highest Paying Jobs and Occupations in America
  • The fastest growing jobs and occupations in USA

    • Who will be hiring?: The trends in job openings are always helpful and are good indicators of job forecast in the near and far future. If you are still studying, it is good to know which areas of economy are growing and may be hiring by the time you finish your studies. These articles below summarize the employment forecast and list the jobs and occupations that are in high demand:

  • USA Employment Projections for 2008-2018
  • Education levels for the fastest growing jobs!
  • Jobs and Occupations in highest demand in USA: 2006 to 2016

    • Read the rest of this entry »

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    INDIA CALLING – US Job Fair 2010

    Aug 4

    Posted by admin in India, india abroad, Jobs and Occupations, Non-Resident Indian | 5 Comments

    This is a guest post submitted by Rahul Ghandi on behalf of Shine.com and Hindustan Times, the organizers of a Job Fair for NRIs aspiring for career opportunities in India

    India has a multi-dimensional economy growing on all fronts, including the knowledge base. Intellectually, India represents one of the most stimulating environments. As many as 60,000 Indian professionals working and settled in USA have returned to India in the last year.

    The set of challenges and opportunities are becoming very mundane in the developed countries abroad. For those in higher management positions, India offers career advancement and provides opportunity to gain multi faceted experience. Obviously, this is an attractive proposition for NRIs who want to grow in terms of their experience and overall career advancement.

    The global recession over the recent years has affected most of the developed countries, while India shows no signs of major slowdown. During this recessionary phase , there is definitely an upsurge in reverse migration to India. Many employees in leadership positions are coming back to India from markets like US, Hong Kong and Singapore. All of this is set off by the improving infrastructure facilities in India and the maturing market, which promises competitive and challenging career opportunities.

    To help more home-bound NRIs realize their dream of a job in India, Shine.com is organizing a two-day Job Fair each in New Jersey and in Santa Clara, California. The Fair brings together the recruiters from India and potential NRIs looking for work. Shine’s India Calling – US Job Fair 2010 will be a unique opportunity for experienced professionals in the US who will be able to look at the suitable assignments in India in the field of IT, Research and Development, Finance, Infrastructure, Retail and Business Development. For recruiters it will be a great opportunity to bring home a high quality talent. So, it is a win-win situation for both parties – the NRIs looking for work as well as the recruiters. Read the rest of this entry »

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    Your pay depends on where you live in USA

    Jul 28

    Posted by admin in career planning, Jobs and Occupations | No Comments

    U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Comparisons of pay between metropolitan areas in 2009

    This should come as a no surprise – your earnings from the same job or occupation can vary significantly, even within the same country. Based on a report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor, your pay depends on where you live and work in America.

    The variations are quite noticeable from city to city. For example, the average pay for a civilian workers in the San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA metropolitan area was 20 percent above the national average in 2009.

    This National Compensation Survey (NCS) study includes 77 different metropolitan areas. The chart below is a pictorial view of the pay relation for some of the cities across USA. In this survey, the term ‘pay’ includes all the wages, salaries, commissions, and production bonuses.


    Read the rest of this entry »

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    Employment Picture for US Families

    May 30

    Posted by admin in Business, career planning, Jobs and Occupations, Non-Resident Indian, NRI | 1 Comment

    USA Employment Characteristics of Families Summary, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Release; May 27, 2010

    As the country struggles with high unemployment rate, more and more families are impacted by the current economic downturn. Here are some interesting facts from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (US Department of Labor) on family level employment in USA:

    • More and more families have at least one of the family member out of work.
    • The share of families with an unemployed member rose from 7.8 percent in 2008 to 12.0 percent in 2009.
    • The proportion of families with an unemployed member in 2009 was at its highest level since the data tracking began in 1994.
    • Of the nation’s 78.4 million families, 80.4 percent had at least one employed member in 2009, down by 1.8 percentage points from 2008.
    • There were 9.4 million families with at least one unemployed member in 2009, up from 6.1 million in 2008. in 2009.

      • Read the rest of this entry »

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    Happiness outsourced

    Mar 12

    Posted by admin in india abroad, Jobs and Occupations, Non-Resident Indian, NRI, Short Story | No Comments

    His house sits in one of the most upper-scale and affluent residential area of Chicago suburbs. As I walked inside the double-door entrance with marble sidings, I quickly realized that the inside of the mansion is even more impressive and pretty that outside view. There are two separate staircases leading to the upper storey; there are multiple bathrooms on the main floor; the open ceiling concept has a catwalk that overlooks the family room; the kitchen alone is bigger than decent size luxury apartment…

    If you look at the size of house, you would think that some millionaire lives here. Maybe, he is a millionaire; it is hard to guess his wealth out of his humble disposition and very friendly nature.

    After a brief chit-chat, I asked him about his occupation. I knew he was not working much currently, but I was very curious to find out where he got the big bucks to build that big mansion.

    “One second, be right back”, he briefly went into the kitchen and came back with two cups of hot tea – steam still floating over the edges.

    “It was a good job, a very good job. Only 15 minutes drive from the house,” he reflected on his past occultation, the cup of tea resting on his thigh as he leaned back in the easy-chair.

    For 15 years, I found out, Ramesh had worked for an electronics company as a quality controller. He does not have any special technical education –engineering degree or anything else of the sort.
    “I started on the assembly line, but I was promoted to the supervisor within years”, there is a happiness in his voice as he walks down the memory lane.
    “Everybody appreciated what I did for the company. I used to get letters of recognition all the way from Japan – our upper management headquarters.”
    “So, what happened?” I asked curiously.
    “Outsourcing!” he did not feel any further need to explain. But then, after a brief pause, he spoke with a sad tone, his voice lowered, “they did not need us anymore, they found cheaper ways to do what we did, in other countries!”
    “Oh, I see!” I did not know what else to say.

    For the past 4 years Ramesh has struggled to find a decent job. Most of the jobs that need his skills are outsourced. After trying for years, he gave up on the job market, and tried to do what one of his best friends does – real estate agent. Read the rest of this entry »

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    Asian Women lead the US work force ranks

    Jan 20

    Posted by admin in india abroad, Jobs and Occupations, Most Popular Stories, Non-Resident Indian, NRI, Race Relations | 2 Comments

    The highlights of Asian women in work force in USA

    U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, a division of U.S. Department of Labor has published some very interesting facts on women in work force in USA. In a report titled ‘Women in the Labor Force’ (2009 Edition) a wide range of employment statistics are highlighted. This particular write-up, to match the interests of the main readers/visitors of the site, is focused on the statistics related to Asian women in USA.

    Note that there are no separate official statistics available for only Indian-American women with this much detailed survey based very large data samples/range. So, Asian women’s category is the closest gauge in this case.

    The highlights of women in work force in USA:With main focus on Asian women, here are some of the highlights.

    • Overall Women in work force: In 2008, 59.5 percent of women (all categories) were in the labor force in America, and this share has been relatively stable over the past several years.
    • Unemployment rate for women: In 2008, the overall unemployment rate for women was 5.4 percent, but rates varied by race and ethnicity. The Asian women had the lowest rate:
      Asian Women: 3.7 percent
      White women: 4.9 percent
      Hispanic women: 7.7 percent
      Black women: 8.9 percent
    • Management Work for women by race: Employed Asian women were more likely to work in the higher paying management, professional, and related occupations in 2008 followed by the rest:
      Asian Women: 46 percent
      White women: 41 percent
      Black women: 31 percent
      Hispanic women: 24 percent

      • Read the rest of this entry »

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    25 Highest Paying Jobs and Occupations in America

    Dec 21

    Posted by admin in career planning, Jobs and Occupations, Most Popular Stories | 4 Comments

    25 Jobs and Occupations with the highest median annual wages in America

    A program from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), called ‘The Occupational Employment Statistics’ produces employment and wage estimates for national and state level occupations. Based on the data available from May 2008, following are the highest paying jobs and occupations in America, along with the the median annual wages and a brief description of the occupation as provided by the US BLS.

    Note that a highest paying job does not mean that it is in the highest demand.

    1. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons (More than $166,400): Perform surgery on mouth, jaws, and related head and neck structure to execute difficult and multiple extractions of teeth, to remove tumors and other abnormal growths, to correct abnormal jaw relations by mandibular or maxillary revision, to prepare mouth for insertion of dental prosthesis, or to treat fractured jaws.

    2. Orthodontists(More than $166,400): Examine, diagnose, and treat dental malocclusions and oral cavity anomalies. Design and fabricate appliances to realign teeth and jaws to produce and maintain normal function and to improve appearance.

    3. Prosthodontists (More than $166,400) Construct oral prostheses to replace missing teeth and other oral structures to correct natural and acquired deformation of mouth and jaws, to restore and maintain oral function, such as chewing and speaking, and to improve appearance.

    4. Physicians and surgeons (More than $166,400) : All physicians and surgeons not listed separately. This is general category for the physicians/doctors and surgeons, practice medicine and perform surgeries.

    6. Chief executives ($158,560): Determine and formulate policies and provide the overall direction of companies or private and public sector organizations within the guidelines set up by a board of directors or similar governing body. Plan, direct, or coordinate operational activities at the highest level of management with the help of subordinate executives and staff managers.

    6. Dentists, general ($142,870): Diagnose and treat diseases, injuries, and malformations of teeth and gums and related oral structures. May treat diseases of nerve, pulp, and other dental tissues affecting vitality of teeth. Read the rest of this entry »

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    Change in US Labor Force by Race and Ethnicity

    Dec 17

    Posted by admin in career planning, Jobs and Occupations, Non-Resident Indian, NRI | 2 Comments

    Source: US Bureau of Labor Stats

    Source: US Bureau of Labor Stats

    “Making informed career decisions requires reliable information about opportunities in the future. Opportunities result from the relationships between the population, labor force, and the demand for goods and services.”  ~ U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics

    The U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics has a very comprehensive report on jobs and occupations in USA. The report outlines various aspects of job situations and provides projections on the jobs outlook.

    The term labor force or work force includes all the people either working or looking for work. Over the next 10 years,  based on the population growth and job outlook, the report also includes the change in the labor force for different races. This chart here has a graphical view of change in labor force by race and ethnic origin comparing 2008  employment to the projection for 2018. Note that there is no separate category for ‘Indian Americans’; in this study, they are part the ‘Asian’ group.

    Some of the Highlights of the report are:

    •  The U.S. workforce is expected to become more diverse by 2018.
    • Among racial groups, Whites are expected to make up a decreasing share of the labor force, while Blacks, Asians, and all other groups will increase their share.
    • The Asian work force is expected to rise from 4.7 percent to 5.6 percent, a relative growth of 25 percent over 10 years.

      • Read the rest of this entry »

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    US Employment scene by Race and Ethnicity

    Dec 17

    Posted by admin in career planning, Jobs and Occupations, Race Relations | No Comments

    The interesting facts and the information below are based on a report from US Department of Labor and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Their report ‘Labor Force Characteristics by Race and Ethnicity, 2008′ is compiled for the year 2008; however, the picture painted below is probably not far from what we have today, in 2009.
    Also, note that there is no separate category for ‘Indian Americans’;  in this study, they are part the ‘Asian’ group. Here are the key highlights from the US Department of Labor report:

    Occupation and industry

    • Compared to Asians and whites, blacks and Hispanics are less likely to be in management, professional, and related occupations—the highest paying major job category.
    • In 2008, half of Asian men worked in management, professional, and related occupations, compared with only 34 percent of white men, 23 percent of black men, and 15 percent of Hispanic men.
    • Among women, in 2008, Asians were more likely than other groups to be employed in management, professional, and related jobs.
    • About 46 percent of Asian women were employed in management and professional occupation group, compared with about 41 percent of white women, 31 percent of black women, and 24 percent of Hispanic women. In contrast, 64 percent of Hispanic women worked in service jobs and in sales and office jobs, compared with about 60 percent of black women, 53 percent of white women, and 46 percent of Asian women.
    • Asians accounted for 5 percent of all employed workers but made up a much larger share of workers in several job categories, including computer software engineers (29 percent); physicians and surgeons (17 percent); and electrical, electronics, and electromechanical assemblers (18 percent).
    • Asians were over-represented in professional and business services, in manufacturing, and in leisure and hospitality.

    Unemployment and not in the labor force

    • Among the major race and ethnic groups, Asians had the lowest unemployment rate of 4.0% in 2008. The blacks had the highest rate at 10.1 percent, 7.6 percent for Hispanics and 5.2 percent for whites.
    • The unemployment rates were 4.9 percent for white adult men and 4.4 percent for white adult women. The jobless rates for Asian adult men and women were 3.9 and 3.5 percent, respectively. However, the rates for black adult men and women were 10.2 and 8.1 percent, respectively.
    • Teenagers (ages 16 to 19) are especially vulnerable to joblessness. In 2008, black teenagers had the highest unemployment rate among the major race and ethnicity groups at 31.2 percent, compared with 22.4 percent for Hispanics, 16.8 percent for whites, and 14.6 percent for Asians.
    • Unemployed blacks have been jobless for longer periods than unemployed workers in other groups. In 2008, the median duration of unemployment for blacks was 12.1 weeks, compared with 10.2 weeks for Asians, 8.8 weeks for whites, and 8.4 weeks for Hispanics.

    Education

    • About 90 percent of blacks and Asians in the labor force had received at least a high school diploma, the same proportion as whites. However, only about 68 percent of Hispanics had completed high school.
    • Asians were most likely to have graduated from college; 58 percent had a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared with 34 percent of whites, 24 percent of blacks, and 16 percent of Hispanics.
    • For all the groups, higher levels of education are associated with a greater likelihood of being employed.
    • Individuals with higher levels of education generally have better access to higher paying jobs. However, at nearly every level of education, blacks and Hispanics were more likely to be unemployed in 2008 than Asians or whites. Go figure!

    Read the rest of this entry »

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