RACIAL BREAKDOWN OF EMPLOYMENT WITHIN SUMMIT COUNTY (OHIO) GOVERNMENT

 

 

An assessment of employment data from
July 1, 2006 – June 30, 2007

 

 

 Concerned Clergy and Community Leaders of Akron & Vicinity
and the Northeast Ohio American Friends Service Committee

Contact: Rev. Bruce Butcher 330-962-9290

 

October, 2007

 

10 POINT SUMMARY

1. Of 4,899 total employees in Summit County, 3,896 were white (79.5%), while 960 employees were black (19.5%). FTable 1.

2. Five Departments (out of 34) had no black employees (Appeals Court, Internal Audit, Law Library, Summit County Port Authority, and Solid Waste District). Table 1.

3. Five other Departments had more than 90% white employees (Metro Parks - 96%, General Health District - 94%, Common Pleas Court  - 93%, Engineer - 92%,  and City Municipal Court - 92%). Table 1.

4. Fifteen other Departments had at least 80% white employees. Table 1.

5. The five Departments with the highest percentage of black employees were: Summer Youth Employment - 82%, Jobs and Family Services – 43%,  Consumer Affairs – 33%, Veterans Services – 33%, and Juvenile Court – 31%. Table 1.

6. The Departments with the largest number of black employees were: Jobs and Family Services (187),  Board of Mental Retardation and Development Disabilities (174), Children’s Services Board (123), Sheriff (69), Juvenile Court (66), Summer Youth Employment (63) and Board of Elections (51). Table 1.

7. All jobs within Summit County are divided into 8 different positions or classifications. The highest percentage of whites were classified as Protective Service (86%), Service Maintenance (85%), Technician (83%) and Skilled Craft (82%), while the highest percentage of blacks were in positions of Para-Professional (45%), Administrator (21%), Professional (20%) and Administration (20%). Table 2.

8. Generally, the higher the pay (regardless of Department), the fewer the number of black employees. Table 3.

9. Across all Departments, 91% of all employees who earned more than $70,000 were white, 89% of all employees who earned between $55,000 and $69,999 were white, and 86% of all employees who earned between $43,000 and $54,999 were white. These were the 3 highest pay ranges. Table 3.

10. The highest percentages of black employees across Departments by pay range were those who earned between $8000 and $15,000 (34%), followed by those who earned between $20,000 and $24,999 (30%). These were 2 of the 3 lowest pay ranges.  Table 3.

 

 

Note: Total population in Summit County, as of the last census, was 536,957. Of that total, 74,834 (14%) were Black/African American.