Key facts
- Black unemployment rate rose to 7% in September from 6% in August.
- Unemployment rate for Black women increased by 1.4 percentage points to 7.3% in September.
- Unemployment rate for Black men increased by 0.5 percentage points to 6.7% in September.
- Unemployment rate for young Black workers rose to 14.4% in September.
- Overall U.S. unemployment rate edged up to 4.2% in September.
- Black unemployment rate remains the highest among racial groups.
The unemployment rate for Black workers saw a significant increase in September, rising to 7% from 6% in August, according to an analysis by the Joint Center using Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This marks a reversal from a recent trend where job gains were seen as broadly lifting workers across demographics.
The rise in Black unemployment contrasts with the experience of other racial groups, as unemployment rates declined for white, Hispanic, and Asian workers during the same period. The overall U.S. unemployment rate also saw a slight increase, moving from 4.1% in August to 4.2% in September.
The increase was particularly pronounced for Black women, whose unemployment rate jumped by 1.4 percentage points to 7.3%, the highest since February. Black men also experienced an increase, with their unemployment rate rising by 0.5 percentage points to 6.7%. Young Black workers faced a sharp increase in unemployment, with their rate climbing from 11.5% to 14.4%. The Joint Center noted that the September data underscore the economic vulnerability of Black workers amid a weakening labor market.