Key facts
- Black unemployment rate rose to 7% in September from 6% in August.
- This was the fastest one-month increase in Black unemployment since March-April 2020.
- The unemployment rate for Black women rose to 7.3% in September from 5.9% in August.
- Unemployment rates for Asian, Hispanic, and White Americans declined in September.
- The overall US unemployment rate increased to 4.2% in September from 4.1% in August.
- The number of Black workers employed increased by 110,000 from August to September.
The unemployment rate for Black Americans surged to 7% in September, a full percentage point increase from 6% in August, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This marks the fastest one-month rise in Black unemployment since March-April 2020 and the highest gain outside of the pandemic since 2012. The increase was particularly pronounced for Black women, whose unemployment rate climbed to 7.3% from 5.9% in the same period.
This rise occurred even as the overall U.S. unemployment rate edged up slightly to 4.2% from 4.1%, and unemployment rates declined for white, Hispanic, and Asian workers. The number of Black workers employed did increase by 110,000 from August to September, but this was outpaced by the rise in joblessness.
While the sharp increase is a cause for concern, some economists suggest that statistical noise and the inherent volatility of the Black unemployment rate, which is extrapolated from a smaller sample size, could be contributing factors. Heather Long, chief economist for Navy Federal Credit Union, noted that it is too early to determine if this is a sustained trend and that further data is needed. A significant decline in education jobs in September, potentially influenced by seasonal adjustments and a late Labor Day, may have also played a role, particularly for Black women.