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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 1976)
V v 1 » Labor economist explains unemployment statistics Mr« Gloria Green, a supervisory labor economist for the Labor Department, points out Bbck unemployment statistics to Jack Bregger. chief of the division in charge of gathering the nation's employment situation. If an eight tenths of one percent change occurred in the Black unemploy ment rate during one month, it would not be considered "a statistically, significant change" by the Federal government. Mrs. Gloria Green, a Black woman who is a supervisory labor economist for the United States Department of labor's Bureau of Iaibor Statistics, explains that the jobless rate for Blacks would have to change “by nearly a full percentage point during a month to be considered statistically significant, because of the small statistical sample." Mrs. Green's supervisor, Jack Bregger, adds that "the Black jobless rate tends to be volatile, and if all changes in the rate were described as significant, then we would be doing a disservice to the American public.” Bregger explains that if the Black unemployment rate moved during sev eral consecutive months in one trend, this would be reported as ‘a continuation of movement'." Bregger is chief of the division responsible for analyzing and coordinating the data on the nation's employment situation. Every month the l.abor Department reports the jobless situation for Ameri can workers as a whole, and selected categories of total working force. Among the selected categories is the listing "Negro and other races," which includes American Indians, Eskimos, Orientals, and Blacks. This category includes nearly PRICKS U IM H IK RI . M S ! THRO«GH all minority groups, except for workers of Spanish origin. Mrs. Green says that "since 1973. the Department has collected and published data on a quarterly basis on these workers." The concepts of employment and unemployment are vital in Bregger's d'vision. Counted as employed is anyone working one hour or more for profit or pay. and persons not physically working be attached to jobs and temporarily absent because of personal reasons such as illness, vacation, bad weather, or industrial disputes. The concept of unemployment includes all persons who are not working but available for work and who have made some specific effort to find work during the previous four weeks. Persons on layoff and those waiting to start new wage or salary jobs within 30 days need not meet the job-seeking requirement to be counted as unemployed. Statistics on the employed and unem ployed as well as persons not in the labor force are gathered by a different government agency - the Census Bureau. This data was derived through the Current Population Survey (CPS), which Is a national sample of about 47,000 pre selected households surveyed one week each month by the Census Bureau for the Labor Department. The house holds are representative of the entire United States in terms of demographic characteristics and urban and rural locations. Mrs. Green says that "the raw data is received every month and then seasonal ly adjusted. Seasonal adjustment is one of the most necessary procedures in analyz ing the data." Bregger adds that “there are many seasonal ups and downs in a particular time period which are normal recurring events each year. In order to assess what is real change as opposed to a seasonal change, the data requires deseasonaliz ing." "For example," he continues, “between May and June there may be a 20 percent increase in unemployement tied in with the influx of young people into the labor market after the dosing of schools. To determine the real underlying move ment. this normal movement must be removed." Bregger admits that "it is an imperfect method because seasonal adjustment factors are basid „«« ¡«".si experience and there is never exact!’ the same seasonal movement but It is the most accurate method the Bureau has." Bregger concludes in saying that the Department's Bureau of Iathor Statistics "takes a role of non political position. Our role is to provide data to every segment of the public not just a special interest group. We do not make subjective decisions.” Black unem p loym ent unch an g ed The unemployment rate for Black workers, at 13.8 percent in November was about the same level as in the previous three months, the United States Iaibor Department of labor's Statistics reported. The unemployment rate for Black workers was 14.2 percent in October, 14.3 percent in September and 14 (lerrent in August. The movement in the jobless rate for white workers paralleled that for the total over the September November period, dropping from 7.9 percent in October to the September level of 7.8 percent. Nationally, unemployment declined in November while employment showed I’ttle change. The unemployment rate, which had risen to 8.6 percent in October, returned to the previous mouth's level of 8.3 percent. Unemployment has been on a virtual plateau for six months after dropping from the second quarter recession peak of 8.9 percent. Total employment as measured by the monthly survey of households was little changed for the third straight month following a period of strong growth from March to August. SAFEWAY n OHMI M a rlg e ld JAN.«. Slagle Fly Tellat T itta * «.Roll P kg. WE GLADLY U CETTI BDA FOOD STAMPS AT SAFEWAY Bargains to Cart Aivav 9 Pancake Syrup 0 Pancake M ix © 3 -lb . Coffee ‘X iT Co* «ÏSIilt 0 M ayonnaise 0 W hite Rice PSU presents Black play The Black Cultural Affairs Board of Portland State University will present "Five On The Black Hand Side," a three-act play with an all-Black cast. The contemporary play takes place in Harlem and tells the story of a surprise rebellion of a housewife who has been psycologically oppressed by her husband. Mrs. Brooks is played by Deetta Hamilton. The cast is composed of amatuer actors. Mr. Brooks is played by playwright and poet, Percy Love. Director is Robert Livingston, formerly an actor with Seattle’s Black Arts West, who has been an actor and director for eight years. "Five On The Black Hand Side" will be performed on January 8th through January 11th and January 16th through January 18th, at 8:00 p.m., at PSU’s Park Theatre. The Sunday, January 11th performance will benefit the Black Education School, a private school which offers kindergarten through third grade. Tickets are $1.25 for students and Senior Citizens and $1.75 for general admission. Six« 3: la ® Raisin Bran ■rMHaMCwMl H 0 Salad Dressing leafy Frag* far Deetta Hamilton will star as Mrs. Brooks, in the PSU Black Cultural Affairs Bo-.rd production of the comedy by Charlie Russell, "Five On The Black Hand Side." 251 Oregon Crown; All-purpose No. 2 20-lb. Bag CHEDDAR CHEESE Safeway Mild Cheddar 2 lb. leaf ©Cheese Spread J1M $ M e d iu m A A E g gs SAGW AY '..r t ic t y j c| #woy pur# j uit# 0 0 0 Fancy Zucchini Squash Large Eggplant Rome Beauty Apples 0 Sw eet NAVEL Oranges 0 © H a lf & H alf 36' 0 P otato Salad "s 4 8 ' © S p ag h etti S a u c e ? ^ 5 9 ' 0 Parm esan Cheese t r S1M 0 Liquid Detergent «& 7 8 ' No Additivei. . . Masons entertain children The Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Oregon F. &• A.M.; Mina Temple #68, AEAONM Shrine; and the Daughters of Isis, Mina Court #142. hosted over two hundred disadvantaged children to a Christmas party, according to Most Worshipful Grand Master Thomas R. Vickers 33°. The Grand Master gave special commendatins to Dtr. Frances Fair and her mother, Mrs. Frances Walker, who baked and sold over two hundred pies to provide a gift for each child. After the children’s party, a reception for all members of PH Masonry in Oregon was held by the three organizations, with Dtr. Viola Bonner, newly elected Commandress of Mina Court #143 accepting responsibility for provison of food for the reception. Over one hundred food baskets were delivered to widows and orphans of the Masonic family and other needy people of teh Albina area. GM Vickers said this was a historic occasion since this was the first time that the three organizations co-sponsored the Annual Children's Christmas Party. "I hope this will continue and become larger and that all of the constituent bodies will participate in the charitable work of the Masonic family.” Saaay Aevar 0 Dishwasher 98' 0 S u -P u rb D e te rg e n ts .8 8 ' © R oyal Burger « X 0 Garbage Bags 69« © H am b u rg er B u n s t~ r.4 2 ' ♦F re n c h Bread J ttÄ . 59* • B e a r Claws *1“ © B e l-a ir Cream P ie s ".4 9 ‘ 9 Salisbury Steak .*£, ©Preserves XS, x 59* © P ean u t Butter "XS“ *1 " 9 1 0 0 0 Island -.sz.’z? 78* © T e a Bags »£ ’I “ © A ssorted Cookies Sr ’ I “ © Instant Chocolate “ S1 “ Large Cucumbers 0 Green Avocados M a r ig o ld Y a r n Safeway Brand le g . *$>«« C o m Save *1.«t UMIT I Cet* Pre-potted for Indoor Crowing Si Ä i__________________H ra u n d O M d o n C a d . V o N o l l 0 f o a o . a u _________________ coypou coupon SAVE 47* ON 6 An olive branch . . . o snow white dove. May these symbols of peace restore faith and brotherhood and shine the light of love all over the world. PH Grand Lodge of Oregon, F. A A .M . Thomas R. Vickers 33°, M W G M PH Grand Chapter, OES Beatrice Mason, Grand W orthy Matron C o r D B a tte rie s Safeway Balterie« Beg. «2* Save 21* with thli ceagea lim it 6 Pkg. fd > ■ A . w ■ ■»
