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Even African-Americans who study science, technology, engineering and math — majors that have been winners in the job market — have had a hard time finding work, said John Schmitt, a senior economist with the Center for Economic and Policy Research, who co-authored that recent report, "A College Degree is No Guarantee." 'We are looking at a group of people who did everything right,' Schmitt said in an interview. 'They graduated high school like they were told. They went to college and graduated. They entered the labor market. But they are more likely to be unemployed than their white counterparts.' In many cases these graduates were the first in their family to attend college, so they bear heavy expectations and responsibilities, from carrying the banner of success for the family to providing financial help. That has made their search for work all the more urgent, and their failure a greater burden.