Male College Grads: The Racial Pay Gap Is Widening

Economic Trends

MALE COLLEGE GRADS: THE RACIAL PAY GAP IS WIDENING

The number of college-educated black men in the labor force jumped 84% in the 1980s, compared with a 36% rise in the ranks of white male college graduates, reports the Labor Dept. But the gap between the two groups' wages widened considerably. In 1979, white male college grads age 25 to 34 earned 12% more than their black counterparts, and the median earnings of whites aged 25 to 64 were 18% higher. By 1989, however, the earnings gaps had widened to 26% and 32%, respectively.Gene Koretz