Analysis of Social Security work histories demonstrates a clear picture of racial inequality, despite equal educational attainment.  When educaution and specific curriculum of training are held constant, there are substantial differences in the earnings and job placement of minority and majority graduates.  These differences appear early in the graduates' careers--at entry into the labor market directly from high school--and continue throughout the follow-up period of seven-and-a-half years.  Thus it is demonstrated that equal formal education and equal skill preperation do not eliminate economic inequality.  It is concluded that bringing the educational level of minority groups up to that of the majority will not by itself reduce the inequality between them or remove all blocks to equal economic opportunity for minority youth.

1