Field Perspectives on the Causes of Low Employment Among Less Skilled Black Men.

This article presents findings from a unique survey that assessed explanations for low black male employment by questioning participants in a low skill labor market. Black men identified barriers to hiring-including felony convictions, drug testing, low skill levels, and bias-as major reasons for their non-employment. Employers believed black male applicants were less likely to have the desired interpersonal skills and work ethic, and that they were less likely to pass pre-employment drug tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]