Black Unemployment Rises to Levels Not Seen Since 2009 Recession

Why is Black unemployment soaring?

The numbers landed quietly, but their weight was heavy. In November, the unemployment rate for Black workers climbed to 8.3 percent, the highest level seen since the height of the pandemic. On paper, it was just another economic statistic. In real life, it showed up as empty lunch tables, overdue bills, and conversations whispered late at night about what comes next. For many Black families, the job market has always been the first place where e…

Black Unemployment Rises to Levels Not Seen Since 2009 Recession

In November 2025, Black unemployment rose to 8.3 percent, according to federal labor data. That rate marked the highest level outside the COVID-19 pandemic. It nearly doubled the national unemployment rate, which stood near 4.6 percent. Outside of COVID, the last comparable period occurred during the Great Recession recovery from 2009 to 2011. During that […] The post Black Unemployment Rises to Levels Not Seen Since 2009 Recession appeared firs…

Don’t Look Away: Black Job Losses Are Sending a Warning

The unemployment rate for Black Americans is rising sharply, outpacing the broader labor market and reviving a familiar and troubling economic pattern. In November 2025, Black unemployment climbed to 8.3 percent, according to federal labor data—nearly double the national rate of 4.6 percent. Just six months earlier, in May, Black unemployment stood at 6 percent, only modestly higher than the overall rate. Since then, the gap has widened dramatic…

Jobs Crisis Deepens for Black Workers

(AURN News) — The economy is not doing well, even as wealth continues to grow for the nation’s richest Americans during what has been described as the new “golden age.” As the Trump administration prioritizes ending diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, Black Americans are facing growing economic pressure. New data released this week by the Bureau of Labor Statistics show the Black unemployment rate has climbed sharply and is now the high…