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Unemployment reached 4.9 percent in June, according to the 

That number translates to about 7.8 million people who are unemployed. 

This rate rose for white workers, while there was little change for Black, Hispanic and Asian workers. 

However, the unemployment rate for black people is still nearly double that of their white counterparts, at 8.6 and 4.4 percent respectively. 

MPR News host Kerri Miller spoke with two scholars about the implications of this data economically and politically. 

 is a public policy professor at Georgetown and former Chief Economist for the U.S. Department of Labor.

 is an associate professor of economics and international relations at Michigan State University. 

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Unemployment reached 4.9 percent in June, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Two economists shared their views on what unemployment means for the US politically and

The unemployment rate for blacks in the U.S. is generally higher than for whites, but that disparity masks the fact that the experience of unemployment itself is usually worse for blacks.  For example, African Americans stay unemployed longer than whites and are less likely to be eligible for unemployment insurance benefits. MPR News host Kerri Miller asked economists Harry Holzer and Lisa Cook about the implications of this data, economically and politically.  7/25/16

Unemployment disparities and how it shapes policy

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