The unemployment was 8.1% in August 2012, down only slightly from 8.3% in July. The unemployment rate was slightly higher among men age 20 and over (7.6%) compared to women age 20 and over (7.3%).  Among youth of both sexes, age 16 to 19 years, the unemployment rate was 24.6%.

The unemployment rate varied by race and ethnicity, with the highest rates among African Americans.  The unemployment rate was 14.1% among African Americans of both sexes, compared to 7.2% among whites and 5.9% among Asians (not seasonally adjusted).  It was 14.3% among African American men and 12.0% among African American women.  The unemployment rate among African American youth, age 16 to19 years, was 37.9%.  The unemployment rate was 10.2% among Hispanics of both sexes: it was 8.1% among Hispanic men and 10.3% among Hispanic women (not seasonally adjusted).  

The unemployment rate was highest among those with the lowest levels of education. The rate was 12.0% among people with less than a high school education, 8.8% among high school graduates, 6.6% among those with some college, and 4.1% among those with a bachelor’s degree or higher.

ttp://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.toc.htm