This research brief by Sylvia Allegretto and Steven Pitts examines the state of Black workers before the Great Recession. The authors argue that simply ending the recession will not solve the job crisis within the Black community, as labor market distress among Black workers has been at catastrophic levels for decades. The report documents aspects of racial inequality in labor market outcomes before the Great Recession, highlighting that the pre-recessionary labor market did not serve the Black community well. The authors suggest that policy goals should focus on addressing the root causes of racial inequality in the labor market, rather than simply returning the economy to pre-recessionary norms.
