New Report Shows Alarming Spike in Black Women’s Unemployment.
An expert claims Black women often act as a canary in the coal mine for the broader workforce.
The overall unemployment rate has remained stable across all worker groups this past year—except for Black women. Economic experts warn this could signal trouble for the broader economy following the release of the latest jobs report on July 3.
The 19th News reports that over the past three months, the unemployment rate for Black women has hovered around six percent—double the rate for white workers. This signals potential challenges for the broader economy. Jessica Fulton, a senior fellow at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, explained that systemic racism and inequality in the labor market mean Black workers are often the first to feel the impact of any underlying issues.
“Black workers, especially Black women, act as a canary in the coal mine, providing a glimpse of what may happen to others later,” Fulton said.
Supporting her point, the overall Black unemployment rate climbed to 6.8% in June, up from 6% in May—a sharp rise fueled by the increase in Black women’s unemployment. While Black men’s unemployment rate has remained above 6% since February, the overall Black unemployment rate had been somewhat balanced by lower unemployment among Black women.
Black women are the most active group of women in the labor market, often working in sectors like healthcare, education, and federal government, all of which have been heavily affected by job cuts from federal budget reductions.
Jasmine Tucker, vice president of research at the National Women’s Law Center, noted that the rising unemployment rate for Black women is concerning, as they typically experience longer periods of unemployment compared to other workers.
While Black women are overrepresented in the federal government—especially in departments like Education, Health and Human Services, and Housing and Urban Development—the loss of federal jobs alone doesn’t fully explain the rise in Black women’s unemployment. Larger structural issues are also at play, according to Kate Bahn, chief economist and senior vice president of research at the Institute for Women’s Policy Research.
“Black women are overrepresented in those jobs,” Bahn said, “but that’s still not enough to overcome the broader structural barriers.”
Tucker further emphasized the significance of the rise in Black women’s unemployment, expressing concern over the implications. “Are we heading into a recession? Will actions taken by the current administration move us in that direction? Prices are high, people can’t afford childcare—there are many things causing anxiety. For me, Black women’s unemployment rising is concerning. This group is the backbone of our economy and labor force, and we have reason to be worried.”
