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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
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.”
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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
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