Black unemployment rate rises to 7% in September

The unemployment rate for Black workers saw a sharp increase in September, rising to 7 percent from 6 percent in August, according to an analysis by the Joint Center using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This marks a significant setback after a recent drop had offered hope for broader job gains.

The increase was particularly pronounced for Black women, whose unemployment rate climbed 1.4 percentage points to 7.3 percent, the highest since February. The rate for Black men also rose, from 6.2 percent to 6.7 percent, and for young Black workers, it jumped from 11.5 percent to 14.4 percent.

In contrast, the unemployment rates for white, Hispanic, and Asian workers declined in September. The overall U.S. unemployment rate edged up slightly to 4.2 percent from 4.1 percent in August, as the economy added 29,000 jobs. At 7 percent, the Black unemployment rate remains the highest among major racial groups.