US EditionAs Black women face unemployment challenges, a roundtable of policymakers searches for solutions
Black women’s unemployment rose from 6.7% to 7.5% between August and September amid federal contract cuts and agency downsizing, impacting key employment sectors, officials said.
- On Monday, Nov. 24, 2025, U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., convened a packed roundtable in a downtown Boston library to examine rising unemployment among Black women.
- Participants said recent federal actions prompted rising Black women unemployment, citing MBDA downsizing, canceled federal contracts, tariff policies, mass layoffs, and opposition to DEI initiatives since April.
- BLS figures show Black women's unemployment rose from 6.7% to 7.5% this year, compared with a 3.2% to 3.4% increase for white women, despite Black women having the highest labor force participation in 2024.
- Attendees proposed using state budgets for Black business development, expanding microloans, increasing government contracting resources, and defended DEI policies as essential to avoid weakening political and business leadership.
- Speakers warned that ignoring causes of rising Black women unemployment could harm the broader economy, as Black women historically face higher unemployment and dominate key sectors like retail and health.
33 Articles
33 Articles
Black Women’s Unemployment Rate Rising Disproportionately
Source: Jacob Wackerhausen / Getty Despite the GOP and President Donald Trump saying otherwise, the American economy ain’t doing so hot. Sadly, the adage that when white America catches a cold, Black people catch the flu is proving true, as Black women are disproportionately unemployed compared to the national average. According to Black Enterprise, the delayed September jobs report revealed that the unemployment rate for Black women increased …
Black Women’s Unemployment Rate Rising Disproportionately
Source: Jacob Wackerhausen / Getty Despite the GOP and President Donald Trump saying otherwise, the American economy ain’t doing so hot. Sadly, the adage that when white America catches a cold, Black people catch the flu is proving true, as Black women are disproportionately unemployed compared to the national average. According to Black Enterprise, the delayed September jobs report revealed that the unemployment rate for Black women increased …
As Black women face unemployment challenges, a roundtable of policymakers searches for solutions
In a packed room at library in a downtown Boston, Rep. Ayanna Pressley posed a blunt question: Why are Black women, who have some of the highest labor force participation
As Black women face unemployment challenges, a roundtable of policymakers searches for solutions
By MATT BROWN, Associated Press In a packed room at library in a downtown Boston, Rep. Ayanna Pressley posed a blunt question: Why are Black women, who have some of the highest labor force participation rates in the country, now seeing their unemployment rise faster than most other groups? The replies Monday from policymakers, academics, business owners and community organizers laid out how economic headwinds facing Black women may indicate a tr…
As Black women face unemployment challenges, a roundtable of policymakers searches for solutions
By MATT BROWN, Associated Press In a packed room at library in a downtown Boston, Rep. Ayanna Pressley posed a blunt question: Why are Black women, who have some of the highest labor force participation rates in the country, now seeing their unemployment rise faster than most other groups? The replies Monday from policymakers, academics, business owners and community organizers laid out how economic headwinds facing Black women may indicate a tr…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 67% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
