Executive Director, Job Opportunities Task Force
Executive Director of the Job Opportunities Task Force in Baltimore, Maryland, which works to increase the skills, job opportunities, and incomes of low-skill, low-income workers and job seekers
PROFILE
Jason Perkins-Cohen
Guest
FROM Jason Perkins-Cohen
Which Way, L.A.?
Census Bureau Says One in Seven Americans Lives in Poverty The National Bureau of Economic Research said today the Great Recession that started in December 2007 officially ended in June of last year. But don't tell that to the 43.6 million people who are trying to live below the poverty line. That's 14.3% overall, or one in seven Americans , including 20% of all children, and 25% of blacks and Hispanics. That's the highest poverty rate since 1994, and the Census Bureau says it would have been worse except for government safety nets.
To the Point
Census Bureau Says One in Seven Americans Lives in Poverty The National Bureau of Economic Research said today the Great Recession that started in December 2007 officially ended in June of last year. But don't tell that to the 43.6 million people who are trying to live below the poverty line . That's 14.3% overall, or one in seven Americans and includes 20% of all children, 25% of blacks and Hispanics. It's the highest poverty rate since 1994, and the Census Bureau says it would have been worse except for government safety nets. Food banks, shelters and job-opportunity centers around the country tell us they're serving a new and different class of people, the recently unemployed. What's the reaction in Washington, six weeks before the November election? Will the private sector start hiring or should government create new jobs?
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