The number of unemployed Black workers reached a dangerous high in 2025. If other ethnic groups were posting unemployment numbers like these, the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies said in a recent analysis, the whole nation would be seen as facing an economic crisis.
Unemployment among U.S. Black workers reached 8.2% in November, more than double the highest rate for white workers that month.
The Joint Center, a leading U.S. public policy group for Black America, looked at Bureau of Labor Statistics data showing major job losses for Black workers in 2025. In 2024, Black workers had an unemployment rate of 6.9%, an increase from 6% the year before. The unemployment rate for all groups increased to 4.3% from 4%, while white unemployment remained relatively insulated at 3.7%.
The trend is “alarming,” Dr. Gabrielle Smith Finnie, senior research analyst at the Joint Center, told the AmNews. “I think it’s important for us to take note of what’s going on in the world, some impact factors, and how Black workers are definitely faring versus other demographics of workers –– and even all workers.”
In November 2025, the Black unemployment rate rose to 8.2%, its highest monthly level since August 2021. By December, a total of 7.5 million U.S. citizens were unemployed, according to official statistics. “In December, the number of unemployed people was 7.5 million,” Finnie explained, acknowledging the numbers, “but sometimes we forget that the data is people, right? There are people behind these numbers, and 7.5 million is, again, just alarming.”
There are several reasons for the increase in Black unemployment. Automation and the increased use of artificial intelligence have led to job losses in sectors like food service, retail, office support, and transportation, where Black workers are overrepresented. On top of that, the Trump administration’s federal job cuts at agencies like the Departments of Education, Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Veterans Affairs (VA), Health and Human Services (HHS), U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and Treasury have deeply affected the employment of Black women.
Finnie explained, “Those federal job cuts have definitely impacted Black women, since Black women were overrepresented in the federal workforce in 2020. Black women made up nearly 12% of the federal workforce. We are in need of more data to analyze how many Black women are still in the federal workforce due to these cuts, but we cannot overstate the current and future impacts of the elimination of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) agencies and those federal layoffs on unemployment trends and the overall labor market as a whole.”
Trade policy changes, like Trump’s increased use of tariffs, have slowed imports and reduced activity at logistics hubs, further limiting employment opportunities. But Finnie warned that, “We don’t have enough data to fully show the breadth and depth of how these tariffs are actually impacting workers in the labor market.”
The unemployment crisis has impacted Black men, women, and youth differently. In November, unemployment for Black men reached 8.4% while Black women experienced a rate of 8%. The average unemployment rate in 2025 was 6.7% for Black women (up from 5.6% in 2024) and 7.1% for Black men (up from 6.3%).
Young Black workers ages 16 to 24 had it the hardest; their unemployment reached 20.8% in November. The average rate for this group climbed from 13.2% in 2024 to 15% in 2025. “Looking at the average unemployment rate for young Black workers, it increased significantly,” Finnie noted. She said there is an urgent need for targeted interventions.
Policies and solutions
With fewer jobs added to the economy — just 600,000 in 2025, compared with 2 million in 2024 — there is an increased need for policy solutions. But while we are waiting for those, Finnie emphasized the importance of Black workers taking advantage of upskilling and reskilling opportunities so they can meet the demands of a changing labor market, position themselves to secure high-wage jobs, and remain competitive in an AI-driven market.
Community members should look out for vocational and technical training opportunities, like the Workforce Pell initiative, which gives financial support for training and postsecondary education. Non-degree credentials and employer investment in training can also create direct pathways to employment for Black workers. Black workers can also consider joining apprenticeship programs, which we tend to be underrepresented in. “Finding nimble, adaptable ways to create outreach strategies that connect Black workers to apprenticeship opportunities is crucial,” Finnie said. She mentioned that skills-based hiring could really open doors for people with nontraditional workforce backgrounds, like those reintegrating after incarceration.
“As Black people are resilient and as we’re navigating different times, folks are just trying to find ways to survive, which means seeking upskilling opportunities, going to higher education, trying to find training opportunities, and continuing to advance in their careers as well,” said Finnie. “I think it takes a lot to continue to be agile and nimble, but I think historically we have always seen how Black people have persisted in this world and continue to make survival happen for their families or even generational well-being for their loved ones.”