Problem

 Definition     1  
Secondary  Data  table    
 
 

 
 
 
 

Exercise  #2  
Problem  Definition  1  -­‐Secondary  Data  Table    
Donald  Jumper  

Tuskegee  University  
September  21,2010  
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 
 
  Problem  Definition     2  
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Abstract  

The  purpose  of  this  paper  is  to  show  the  dramatic  increase  in  the  unemployment  
rate  for  the  leading  industries  in  the  United  States.  The  data  in  this  paper  will  also  
compare  and  analyze  gender  in  conjunction  with  these  industries  to  determine  what  
gender  is  effected  the  most  by  unemployment  and  to  what  magnitude  does  gender  
have  in  unemployment.  This  paper  will  conclude  that  all  industries  suffer  with  
unemployment  and  the  gender  gap  varies  depending  on  the  industry.  

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 

 
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1.Problem  identification.  State  the  general  problem  topic  

  The  general  problem  topic  is  on  the  increasing  unemployment  rate  as  it  
pertains  to  gender  and  ethnicity  in  today’s  leading  workforce  industries.  Another  
problem  is  that  there  has  not  been  an  effective  solution  put  for  by  either  the  Obama  
administration  or  Bush  administration  that  has  successfully  tackled  the  rise  in  the  
unemployment  rate.  

  The  second  general  problem  would  be  that  the  African  American  race  has  
double  the  unemployment  rate  then  all  other  ethnicities  and  in  almost  every  
category  has  the  highest  deficit  of  employed  working  citizens.13%  of  all  single  black  
African  American  males  are  unemployed  and  12%  for  all  African  American  women.  

2.  Problem  Description.  Write  an  expansive  paragraph  or  two  that  describe  the  
problem  topic.  

A.  How  does  the  problem  affect  the  survival  and  propagation  of  African  
Americans?  (Refer  to  the  Quantitative  Problem-­Solving  Model  in  the  
Appendix)  

  B.  Do  you  have  any  ideas  about  what  can  be  done  or  what  changes  are  
needed  to  alleviate  the  problem?  

The  problem  among  African  American  is  critical  and  needs  to  be  addressed.  
14.5%  of  all  African  Americans  who  have  attained  lower  then  a  high  School  diploma  
are  unemployed  and  only  34%  of  our  African  American  population  is  employed  as  
shown  in  the  Graph.  Also  in  2009  10%  of  all  widowed,  separated  and  or  divorced  
African  American  women  were  unemployed.  These  facts  alone  show  that  the  
unemployment  rate  in  the  African  American  society  is  a  serious  issue.  

Some  changes  that  could  be  made  to  help  alleviate  the  problem  is  enforcing  
education  because  the  data  also  shows  that  80%  of  African  Americans  who  has  
achieved  a  bachelors  degree  or  higher  are  employed.  Also  these  rates  need  to  be  
  Problem  Definition     4  
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made  public  and  brought  to  the  attention  of  African  Americans  in  efforts  that  we  can  
eliminate  these  high  unemployment  rates.  Education  is  key  and  if  we  can  keep  
students  in  school  and  get  them  to  finish  college  the  chances  of  them  becoming  a  
statistic  to  unemployment  is  extremely  low.  

3.Findings.  Describe  the  data  tables  you  located  with  references  to  the  following  
quantitative  aspect.  You  must  locate  at  least  one  data  table  for  each  of  the  four  
aspects  (i.e.  there  is  a  minimum  of  four  data  tables.)  The  data  must  be  in  PDF  file,  as  
explained  in  the  APPENDIX  

  All  of  my  graph  and  data  tables  explain  different  aspects  to  my  research  and  
provide  supporting  facts  about  unemployment.  For  example  one  of  my  data  tables  
breaks  down  the  unemployment  rate  by  race,  gender  and  marital  status.  While  
another  graph  breaks  down  Employment  status  of  the  civilian  noninstitutional  
population  25  years  and  over  by  educational  attainment,  sex  and  race.  
   
Also  one  graph  breaks  down  unemployment  rate  by  industry,  gender  and  
race  therefore  it  gives  data  to  differentiate  weather  more  males  or  females  are  
unemployed  pertaining  to  industry  and  race.  This  data  table  was  useful  in  
determining  which  race  is  being  affected  from  unemployment  the  most.  Although  all  
graphs  and  data  tables  deal  with  the  general  topic  increasing  unemployment  rate  as  
it  pertains  to  gender  and  ethnicity  all  the  data  tables  and  graphs  have  there  own  
specific  point  of  interest  and  specification.  
These  data  tables  provide  various  information  to  help  me  determine  which  
gender  was  actually  unemployed  and  taking  efforts  to  seek  work  for  example  one  
graph  shows  that  57.1%  of  all  women  unemployed  actually  have  filled  out  
applications  and  sent  in  resumes  this  method  was  used  to  determine  the  number  of  
jobseekers  between  the  two  genders.  As  for  males  only  51.8%  of  all  unemployed  
males  have  sent  in  applications  and  resumes,  which  classifies  them  as  unemployed  
jobseekers.  
 
 
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Furthermore  another  data  table  breaks  down  unemployment  by  gender,  
industry,  and  class  of  worker  so  it  gives  more  detail  then  my  other  data  table,  which  
specifies  in  just  industry.  This  data  table  explains  that  8.1%  of  women  are  
unemployed  salary  workers  compared  to  10.8%  for  men.  However  the  largest  
unemployment  for  gender  by  industry  and  class  of  worker  was  beverage  and  
tobacco  women  are  unemployed  17.2%  compared  to  9.8%  for  men.  
 
A).  Magnitude  
1.How  large  or  severe  is  the  problem    
  As  it  pertains  to  unemployment  in  the  United  States  the  data  shows  that  this  
is  an  issue  than  must  be  addressed.  The  magnitude  of  this  problem  has  grown  to  be  
one  of  the  most  important  issues  facing  our  nation  today.  The  population  to  which  
the  problem  effect  is  no  longer  just  African  Americans  or  Hispanics  white  American  
is  also  becoming  a  statistic  to  unemployment  by  the  thousands.  
 
2.)  How  many  people  does  it  affect?  
  As  I  previously  stated  the  magnitude  of  this  problem  has  grown  to  affect  all  
ethnicities  and  both  genders.  The  data  shows  that  almost  4  million  of  all  high  school  
graduates  with  no  college  experience  are  unemployed.  Also  5.8  million  women  are  
separated  and  or  divorced  and  unemployed.  Therefore  this  problem  is  not  just  
limited  to  race  or  gender  but  it  is  becoming  the  most  important  economic  issues  
today.  
 
3.)  What  are  the  costs  of  the  problems  expressed  in  the  terms  of  money.  (Morbidity  
or  morality?  Data  on  magnitude  are  usually  univariate  and  sometimes  consist  of  
rank  order  List).  
  The  unemployment  rate  is  definitely  one  of  the  leading  causes  to  our  recent  
recession.  The  United  States  government  treasury  department  puts  out  millions  of  
dollars  to  service  unemployment  programs  and  assist  the  unemployed  in  finding  
work.  These  same  unemployed  jobseekers  receive  payments  to  help  them  get  by  
financially  for  a  temporary  period  of  time.  The  data  shows  that  the  people  who  
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made  the  most  money  before  they  were  laid  off  receive  higher  payments  from  the  
federal  government  while  unemployed  to  meet  there  living  standards  I  assume.  
 
B.)  Scope  
1.)How  wide  spread  is  the  problem    
  According  to  the  data  the  problem  is  extremely  wide  spread  it  affects  every  
culture   and   every   gender.   Women   may   be   most   affected   by   unemployment   but   with  
these  high  numbers  of  unemployed  Americans  we  must  accept  this  as  a  problem  for  
every  citizen.  This  problem  has  no  limits  or  boundaries.  
 
2.)   What   percentages   of   selected   population   are   affected?   (E.g.   nations,   states,  
regions,  etc.)  These  data  are  usually  as  rates  or  ratios  
The  African  American  population  is  affected  the  most  as  I  stated  earlier  the  
amount  of  unemployed  African  American  are  doubled  any  other  race.  African  
Americans  have  a  14.5%  unemployment  rate  compared  to  other  races  averaging  out  
at  8.5%.  The  unemployment  rate  for  African  Americans  with  a  bachelor’s  degree  or  
higher  is  7.3%.  Which  is  equal  to  other  ethnicities  overall  unemployment  rate.  
 
C.)  Changes:  How  has  the  problem  varied  or  changed  over  time    
  The  problem  has  changed  drastically  over  time  in  2008  5.4  percent  of  women  
were  unemployed  this  number  has  skyrocketed  to  8.1  %  in  2009  in  just  1  year  that  
same  percentage  was  4.1  in  2000.Futhernore  other  categories  are  just  alike  
unemployment  continues  to  rise  across  the  board  over  the  past  5  years  these  
numbers  have  increased  to  numbers  and  percents  so  high  even  president  Obama  
had  to  put  unemployment  on  his  agenda.  
 
D.)  Disparities:  Are  there  differences  in  the  problem  in  terms  race,  age,  SES,  sexual  
orientation,  or  disability?  
  The  biggest  disparities  was  with  African  American’s  I  assume  because  of  the  
drop  out  rate  it  ultimately  results  in  students  not  being  able  to  find  jobs  because  the  
market  is  so  limited  for  someone  without  even  a  high  school  diploma.  Therefore  
  Problem  Definition     7  
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they  fall  into  the  unemployment  pool  which  backs  my  argument  I  stated  at  first  that  
even  though  some  educated  scholars  are  unemployed  the  only  security  to  avoid  
becoming  statistic  is  to  further  your  education  and  make  your  self  irreplaceable.  
 
4.)  Data  Tables  to  be  upload  
Table  1.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Table  2.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
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Table  3.  

 
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Table  4.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Table  5.  

 
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References  Page  
Table  1  
U.S.  Bureau  of  Labor  Statistics,  ‘‘Employment  and  Earnings  Online,’’  January  2009;  <  
<http://www.bls.gov/cps/home.htm>.  
 
Table  2  
U.S.  Bureau  of  Labor  Statistics,  ‘‘Employment  and  Earnings  Online,’’  January  2009;  <  
<http://www.bls.gov/cps/home.htm>.  
 
Table  3  
U.S.  Bureau  of  Labor  Statistics,  ‘‘Employment  and  Earnings  Online,’’  January  2009;  <  
<http://www.bls.gov/cps/home.htm>.  
 
Table  4  
U.S.  Bureau  of  Labor  Statistics,  ‘‘Employment  and  Earnings  Online,’’  January  2009;  <  
<http://www.bls.gov/cps/home.htm>.  
 
Table  5  
U.S.  Bureau  of  Labor  Statistics,  ‘‘Employment  and  Earnings  Online,’’  January  2009;  <  
<http://www.bls.gov/cps/home.htm>.  
 
Table  6  
U.S.  Bureau  of  Labor  Statistics,  ‘‘Employment  and  Earnings  Online,’’  January  2009;  <  
<http://www.bls.gov/cps/home.htm>.