Male Nonemployment in White, Black, Hispanic, and Multiethnic Urban Neighborhoods, 1970−2000

Abstract

Many social problems in urban neighborhoods are rooted in high rates of male nonemployment. Past research suggests that male joblessness is a problem largely in low−income, Black neighborhoods. In contrast, this study reports that increases in male nonemployment over the past 30 years have been more widely distributed across urban neighborhoods. Although rates of male joblessness rose most sharply in low−income Black neighborhoods, more advantaged Black neighborhoods and low−income to moderate−income Hispanic and multiethnic neighborhoods also experienced substantial increases. Multivariate models highlight the important role that changes in the economy played in the growth of male nonemployment in low−income and moderate− income neighborhoods.