Abstract
The economic position of black men has deteriorated in the 1980s. In 1984, only 60% of black men were employed, compared to over 70% of white men. In addition, the median income of regularly employed black men was less than 70% that of white men. These differentials are worsening and are caused by 2 factors: 1. recent slow growth in employment opportunities for all men, combined with an increase in black men of working age, and 2. the inability of black men to move into higher wage occupations. The black male labor force has grown rapidly, but growth in employment opportunities has not kept pace. In addition, the high wage occupations that black men do move into are characterized by low ratios of black earnings to white. While discrimination in promotion and hiring may still account for a good deal of the employment and wage differentials, educational disparities and other barriers may limit future employment opportunities for black men.