Algernon Austin
2024 Just Economy Conference Voting
The historically low national unemployment rate should be celebrated, but it is important to remember that there are still many places and people living with a high rate of joblessness. For example, in the second quarter of this year, the national unemployment rate was 3.5%, but it was 8.3% in Camden, New Jersey; 8.9% in Flint, Michigan; 9.1% in Magoffin County, Kentucky; 11.2% in Jefferson County, Mississippi; 14.7% in the Kusilvak Census Area in Alaska; and 15.8% in Imperial County, California. The official unemployment rate also significantly undercounts joblessness among Black people, in the Appalachia region, and among Native Americans. Subsidized employment programs can be an effective tool to address joblessness in these forgotten places and among these forgotten people. Our workshop will discuss and explain past, current and proposed subsidized employment programs at the national, state and local levels. The audience will be able to advocate for subsidized employment programs for their communities.
petersuber
Piper Carter