The gap between the black and white unemployment rates in the US shrunk to a record low in June.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the share of jobless African Americans in the labor force fell to 7.1%, the lowest level since April 2000. It was 1.5 percentage points down from a year ago, and it helped create the smallest gap between white and black employment on record.
Andy Kiersz/Business Insider; data from FRED
"This trend is exactly what we want to see" as the economy gets closer to full employment, said Elise Gould, a senior economist at the Economic Policy Institute. The rebound in available jobs after the recession has attracted millions of Americans back into the labor force. With the unemployment rate back at a post-recession low, the economy is nearer to the theoretical level of full employment, at which everyone who wants a job and can work is employed.
"While the unemployment rates for workers of color remain far higher than for white non-Hispanic workers, the black unemployment rate has been falling faster than overall unemployment over the last year," she said in a statement after the jobs report.
Black unemployment, however, remained much higher than the overall unemployment rate of 4.4%, which in June inched up from a 16-year low.
And, it was greater than the white unemployment rate, which at 3.8%, was lower than the overall rate.
Andy Kiersz/Business Insider; data from FRED
RELATED: The 25 highest-paying jobs you can get without a bachelor's degree
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The 25 highest-paying jobs you can get without a bachelor's degree
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The 25 highest-paying jobs you can get without a bachelor's degree
#25: Aerospace engineering and operations technicians
They operate and maintain equipment used in developing, testing, and producing new aircraft and spacecraft.
Median annual wage(2016): $68,020
Education required: Associate's degree
Projected job openings(through 2024): 3,200
Work experience: None
On-the-job training: None
Photo credit: Getty
#24: Magnetic-resonance-imaging technologists
They monitor patient safety and comfort and view images of areas being scanned to ensure quality of pictures.
Median annual wage(2016): $68,420
Education required: Associate's degree
Projected job openings(through 2024): 9,800
Work experience: Less than five years
On-the-job training: None
Photo credit: Getty
#23: Gaming managers
They plan, direct, or coordinate gaming operations in a casino.
Median annual wage (2016): $69,180
Education required: High-school diploma or equivalent
Projected job openings(through 2024): 800
Work experience: Less than five years
On-the-job training: None
Photo credit: Getty
#22: Diagnostic medical sonographers
They use special imaging equipment that directs sound waves into a patient's body to assess and diagnose various medical conditions.
Median annual wage (2016): $69,650
Education required: Associate's degree
Projected job openings (through 2024): 27,500
Work experience: None
On-the-job training: None
Photo credit: Getty
#21: Ship engineers
They supervise and coordinate activities of crew engaged in operating and maintaining engines, boilers, deck machinery, and electrical, sanitary, and refrigeration equipment aboard ship.
Median annual wage(2016): $70,570
Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
Projected job openings(through 2024): 3,500
Work experience: Less than five years
On-the-job training: None
Photo credit: Getty
#20: Postmasters and mail superintendents
They plan, direct, or coordinate operational, administrative, management, and supportive services of a US post office, or coordinate activities of workers engaged in postal and related work in an assigned post office.
Median annual wage (2016): $71,670
Education required: High-school diploma or equivalent
Projected job openings(through 2024): 3,800
Work experience: Less than five years
On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Photo credit: Getty
#19: Transportation inspectors
They inspect equipment or goods in connection with the safe transport of cargo or people.
Median annual wage (2016): $72,220
Education required: High-school diploma or equivalent
Projected job openings(through 2024): 7,100
Work experience: None
On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Photo credit: Getty
#18: Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels
They command or supervise operations of ships and water vessels, such as tugboats and ferryboats.
Median annual wage(2016): $72,680
Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award (Required to hold license issued by US Coast Guard.)
Projected job openings(through 2024): 17,200
Work experience: Less than five years
On-the-job training: None
Photo credit: Getty
#17: Dental hygienists
They clean teeth, examine patients for oral diseases like gingivitis, and provide other preventative dental care.
Median annual wage(2016): $72,910
Education required: Associate's degree
Projected job openings(through 2024): 70,300
Work experience: None
On-the-job training: None
Photo credit: Getty
#16: First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
They directly supervise and coordinate activities of sales workers other than retail sales workers.
Median annual wage (2016): $73,150
Education required: High-school diploma or equivalent
Projected job openings(through 2024): 69,900
Work experience: Less than five years
On-the-job training: None
Photo credit: Getty
#15: Funeral-service managers
They plan, direct, or coordinate the services or resources of funeral homes.
Median annual wage(2016): $73,830
Education required: Associate's degree
Projected job openings(through 2024): 7,400
Work experience: Less than five years
On-the-job training: None
Photo credit: Shutterstock
#14: Nuclear medicine technologists
They use a scanner to create images of various areas of a patient's body. They prepare radioactive drugs and administer them to patients undergoing the scans.
Median annual wage (2016): $74,350
Education required: Associate's degree
Projected job openings(through 2024): 4,200
Work experience: None
On-the-job training: None
Photo credit: Getty
#13: First-line supervisors of fire fighting and prevention workers
They directly supervise and coordinate activities of workers engaged in fire fighting and fire prevention and control.
Median annual wage(2016): $74,540
Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
Projected job openings(through 2024): 33,400
Work experience: Less than five years
On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Photo credit: Getty
#12: Power-plant operators
They control, operate, or maintain machinery to generate electric power. Includes auxiliary equipment operators.
Median annual wage(2016): $74,690
Education required: High-school diploma or equivalent
Projected job openings(through 2024): 14,100
Work experience: None
On-the-job training: Long-term on-the-job training
Photo credit: Getty
#11: Powerhouse, substation, and relay electrical and electronics repairers
They inspect, test, repair, or maintain electrical equipment in generating stations, substations, and in-service relays.
Median annual wage(2016): $75,670
Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
Projected job openings(through 2024): 3,900
Work experience: None
On-the-job training: Long-term on-the-job training
Photo credit: Getty
#10: Commercial pilots
They pilot and navigate the flight of fixed-wing aircraft on nonscheduled air-carrier routes or helicopters. Requires commercial-pilot certificate.
Median annual wage (2016): $77,200
Education required: High-school diploma or equivalent
Projected job openings(through 2024): 15,100
Work experience: None
On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Photo credit: Getty
#9: Detectives and criminal investigators
They conduct investigations related to suspected violations of federal, state, or local laws to prevent or solve crimes.
Median annual wage (2016): $78,120
Education required: High-school diploma or equivalent
Projected job openings(through 2024): 28,300
Work experience: Less than five years
On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Photo credit: Getty
#8: Elevator installers and repairers
They assemble, install, repair, or maintain electric or hydraulic freight or passenger elevators, escalators, or dumbwaiters.
Median annual wage(2016): $78,890
Education required: High-school diploma or equivalent
Projected job openings(through 2024): 5,900
Work experience: None
On-the-job training: Apprenticeship
Photo credit: Getty
#7: Nuclear technicians
They assist physicists, engineers, and other professionals in nuclear research and nuclear production.
Median annual wage(2016): $79,140
Education required: Associate's degree
Projected job openings (through 2024): 2,800
Work experience: None
On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Photo credit: Getty
#6: Radiation therapists
They check equipment, observe patients' reactions to treatment, and document sessions.
Median annual wage(2016): $80,160
Education required: Associate's degree
Projected job openings (through 2024): 6,200
Work experience: None
On-the-job training: None
Photo credit: Getty
#5: Power distributors and dispatcher
They coordinate, regulate, or distribute electricity or steam.
Median annual wage(2016): $81,900
Education required: High-school diploma or equivalent
Projected job openings(through 2024): 3,900
Work experience: None
On-the-job training: Long-term on-the-job training
Photo credit: Getty
#4: First-line supervisors of police and detectives
They directly supervise and coordinate activities of members of a police force.
Median annual wage(2016): $84,840
Education required: High-school diploma or equivalent
Projected job openings(through 2024): 43,000
Work experience: Less than five years
On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Photo credit: Getty
#3: Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
They coordinate transportation, storage, or distribution activities in accordance with organizational policies and applicable government laws or regulations.
Median annual wage(2016): $89,190
Education required: High-school diploma or equivalent
Projected job openings(through 2024): 27,100
Work experience: Five years or more
On-the-job training: None
Photo credit: Getty
#2: Nuclear-power-reactor operators
They operate or control nuclear reactors, move control rods, start and stop equipment, monitor and adjust controls, record data in logs, and implement emergency procedures when needed.
Median annual wage(2016): $91,170
Education required: High-school diploma or equivalent
Projected job openings(through 2024): 2,600
Work experience: None
On-the-job training: Long-term on-the-job training
Photo credit: Getty
#1: Air-traffic controllers
They monitor and direct the movement of aircraft. Median annual wages of air-traffic controllers are the highest of any occupation in which workers typically do not need a bachelor's degree.
Median annual wage(2016): $122,410
Education required: Associate's degree
Projected job openings(through 2024): 7,500
Work experience: None
On-the-job training: Long-term on-the-job training
Andy Kiersz/Business Insider; data from FRED
Andy Kiersz/Business Insider; data from FRED
