Detroit Evening Report: Black, Latino workers in Detroit have less access to quality jobs, report finds

Black and Latino workers in Detroit are less likely to work in growth occupations compared to their suburban counterparts, according to a new report.

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Growth occupations include positions such as registered nurses, accountants and elementary school teachers.

Detroit Future City’s report, “Growth Occupations: Opportunities for more equitable participation in Detroit’s Growing Economy,” says the city should work to increase the number of jobs in growth occupations, increase the talent prepared for those occupations and increase access to those jobs.

The study says the city’s economic growth hasn’t been sufficient to create truly equitable outcomes for Detroiters of color.

“Across the board there are barriers and that’s what we’re really trying to communicate here, is that there are systemic barriers that are keeping some Detroiters from seeking and obtaining some of the highest growth sector jobs in the region,” Anika Goss, CEO of Detroit Future City, told The Detroit News. “Until we can address what those barriers are and how we can actually reduce those barriers so that hiring is more inclusive, we will continue to see some of these inequities that we laid out in the report.”

In related news, Detroit’s economy is likely to grow through 2027, even if the U.S. goes through a soft recession, according to a University of Michigan report.

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Do you have a community story we should tell? Let us know in an email at detroiteveningreport@wdet.org.