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

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