Final answer:
African Americans with lower levels of education and younger individuals face the highest disparity in unemployment rates compared to white Americans, influenced by patterns of discrimination. The gap in unemployment rates narrowed in the 1990s; however, the Great Recession saw an increase across groups.
Step-by-step explanation:
The group of African Americans that suffers from the greatest disparity in unemployment rates when compared to white Americans encompasses several demographics, including individuals who are less educated, and younger, and people who may have historically faced systemic challenges and discrimination in the labor market. While the unemployment rates for African Americans are higher overall than for other racial or ethnic groups, these rates have been influenced by various factors such as level of education and age.
From the late 1990s, there was a decrease in the gaps between unemployment rates for whites, African Americans, and Hispanics, with all groups experiencing reduced unemployment figures until the onset of the Great Recession. Despite fluctuations, patterns of discrimination have continually played a role in constraining labor market opportunities for African Americans.
Statistics have highlighted that the unemployment rates for less educated individuals, young people, and African Americans tend to be higher when compared to their more educated, middle-aged, and white counterparts. These employment disparities highlight the ongoing challenge of achieving labor equality across different racial and demographic groups in the United States.