Long-Term Unemployment

Employment can have a positive effect on economic well-being and health. Thus, it follows that unemployment is often detrimental to economic and health outcomes. Short-term unemployment is not an uncommon occurrence in one’s career trajectory, but long bouts of unemployment, or chronic unemployment, can have a severe impact on health, especially mental health. Long-term unemployment increases distress, depression, anxiety, psychosomatic symptoms, subjective well-being, and self-esteem. The Long-term Unemployment indicator is extracted from the U.S. Census, and measures the proportion of the working-age population (i.e., residents above age 16) who has been unemployed for more than 12 months. It also is considered an “inverse” measure, i.e., the higher the value the more negative the ranking. In addition to its connections to the Employment Opportunities domain, the Long-term Unemployment indicator also impacts the Economic Health, Neighborhood Characteristics, Educational Opportunities, and Housing domains.

Neighborhood Indicator Value Ranksort descending
Oxmoor 0.5% 1
Crestline 0.6% 2
Highland Park 0.8% 3
North Pratt 0.8% 3
Redmont Park 0.9% 5
Crestwood North 1.0% 6
Overton 1.0% 6
Sandusky 1.1% 8
Crestwood South 1.1% 8
Forest Park 1.2% 10
East Avondale 1.3% 11
Rising - West Princeton 1.3% 11
Acipco-Finley 1.4% 13
Wahouma 1.5% 14
Glen Iris 1.6% 15
Enon Ridge 1.7% 16
Hooper City 1.7% 16
Roebuck Springs 1.8% 18
South East Lake 1.8% 18
Liberty Highlands 1.9% 20
Spring Lake 2.0% 21
Riley 2.0% 21
Norwood 2.1% 23
Smithfield Estates 2.1% 23
Roebuck 2.1% 23
Huffman 2.2% 26
South Titusville 2.3% 27
Fairview 2.5% 28
Penfield Park 2.6% 29
East Birmingham 2.6% 29
Maple Grove 2.6% 29
Eastwood 2.6% 29
Five Points South 2.7% 33
Zion City 2.7% 33
Mason City 2.7% 33
Oak Ridge Park 2.8% 36
Echo Highlands 2.8% 36
Ensley Highlands 2.9% 38
North East Lake 3.2% 39
Sherman Heights 3.2% 39
Oak Ridge 3.2% 39
West Brownville 3.4% 42
Sun Valley 3.4% 42
Oakwood Place 3.5% 44
Grasselli Heights 3.5% 44
Bridlewood 3.6% 46
North Birmingham 3.6% 46
Central Pratt 3.7% 48
Fairmont 3.7% 48
Killough Springs 3.7% 48
East Thomas 3.7% 48
Hillman 3.9% 52
Hillman Park 3.9% 52
Evergreen 3.9% 52
East Brownville 3.9% 52
Woodland Park 4.0% 56
Belview Heights 4.0% 56
Powderly 4.0% 56
North Titusville 4.1% 59
Woodlawn 4.1% 59
Central City 4.1% 59
Apple Valley 4.2% 62
Bush Hills 4.2% 62
Wylam 4.3% 64
Germania Park 4.4% 65
Green Acres 4.4% 65
Harriman Park 4.5% 67
South Woodlawn 4.5% 67
Brownsville Heights 4.5% 67
Airport Highlands 4.6% 70
Central Park 4.7% 71
East Lake 4.7% 71
Thomas 4.7% 71
Arlington - West End 4.9% 74
Roosevelt 5.0% 75
Collegeville 5.0% 75
Garden Highlands 5.0% 75
Pine Knoll Vista 5.0% 75
Brummitt Heights 5.0% 75
West End Manor 5.1% 80
Brown Springs 5.1% 80
West Goldwire 5.2% 82
Dolomite 5.2% 82
Smithfield 5.3% 84
Jones Valley 5.3% 84
Tarpley City 5.3% 84
Ensley 5.5% 87
South Pratt 5.5% 87
Druid Hills 5.6% 89
Fountain Heights 5.6% 89
Kingston 5.9% 91
Inglenook 6.0% 92
Industrial Center 6.1% 93
College Hills 7.7% 94
Graymont 7.7% 94
North Avondale 7.8% 96
Tuxedo 7.8% 96
Gate City 10.0% 98
Southside 10.1% 99

Key Citations:
1. Katz, Lawrence F. Testimony for the Joint Economic Committee, U.S. Congress. Long-Term Unemployment in the Great Recession, Hearing, April 29, 2010. Available at http://scholar.harvard.edu/files/lkatz/files/long_term_unemployment_in_t...
2. Sullivan, Daniel and Till von Wachter, 2009 (as cited in Katz, Lawrence F., 2010).
3. Milner, Allison, Andrew Page, Anthony D. LaMontagne. “Long-Term Unemployment and Suicide: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis” (2012). PLoS ONE