The jobless rate among black Americans is above the national average. Tell us your experience with race and finding work

The latest US government figures show that unemployment among the black community not just remains the highest in the country but has now risen to 14.4% – double that of rates among whites.

As our Washington correspondent Ewen MacAskill recently reported, those rates are stunningly high in some urban pockets: Las Vegas has the highest rate, 22.6%; the Los Angeles metro area, 21.1%; Chicago, 19.1%; and Detroit, 18.1%.

As part of our people’s panel, we are asking for your experiences as an African American looking for work. Has race impacted your search, and do you feel empowered to address any problems? Where have you found support, if any? Will the economy and unemployment affect your decision on whether to vote and whom to vote for in the upcoming presidential elections?

Finally, if you are an employer, how does race affect your hiring decisions?

To participate, fill out this form by 9pm ET on Thursday, 12 July, and we’ll publish selected responses.