Reflecting Back, Looking Forward

Reflecting on 2012, we give prayerful thought to the 12.2 million Americans who found themselves without a job at the year’s end. As people of faith, we continue to be concerned about our country’s slow economic recovery. While we are encouraged by the steady growth experienced over the past year, we remain particularly concerned for those individuals often left on the margins of the economic recovery. We also recognize that budgetary and deficit reduction decisions soon to be made by Congress may either enhance or repress this growth.

We began the year with a jobless rate of 8.3%, and ended the year with a decreased rate of 7.8%. The average unemployment rate for 2012 was 8.1%. Still, we continue to be deeply concerned about the long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks or more), of which there were 4.8 million last month alone— 39.1% of the unemployed population. We were encouraged in December to see that Congress extended unemployment insurance through the end of the year, since this program is such a vital resource for the millions of people who are experiencing long-term unemployment.
Among specific worker groups the average unemployment rate in 2012 for adult men was 7.5%, adult women 7.4%, whites 7.2%, blacks 13.8%, Hispanics 10.3%, and Asians 6.0%. Charts with a month-by-month analysis of unemployment among specific worker groups can be found at the end of this statement.

Click here to read the full statement.

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Congressional Update: Thank You! Thank You!

Because of your efforts and the effort of thousands of other Americans, two million long-term unemployed workers will not face an abrupt cut-off of all jobless aid and millions more workers who will run out of state unemployment insurance during the year can seek assistance. Congress, as part of the so-called ‘fiscal cliff’ deal that rushed through Washington over New Year’s weekend, approved an extension the federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) program through 2013.  

We commend the President and congressional leaders, especially Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) and Representative Sander Levin (D-MI) for their tireless efforts on behalf of the EUC program and the families so dependent on it. Without their prodding, insistence, and leadership, hardworking people who have fallen on difficult times would have gotten lost in the flurry and bluster of legislative activity.
Now we urge the new Congress to focus on putting all Americans back to work. While it’s all well and good that they preserved an essential safeguard against poverty and an important gateway to re-employment, we still need access to good jobs. Creating good jobs—with good wages and good benefits—is the only way to restore our economy and America’s failing middle class.

Thanks again to all who stood up for decent benefits for jobless workers.

Reverend Michael Livingston
Policy Director
Interfaith Worker Justice