Black Women Face Rising Unemployment as Overall Black Job Gains Stall in April

WASHINGTON - May 6, 2025 - PRLog -- New employment data released for April 2025 shows a troubling surge in unemployment among Black women, even as Black men posted modest job gains and the overall Black labor force held steady.

According to seasonally adjusted data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Black unemployment rate rose to 6.3%, up from 6.2% in March, driven almost entirely by job  losses among Black women.

The number of unemployed Black women increased by 106,000, the largest monthly rise in any subgroup analyzed. At the same time, employment among Black women fell by 38,000, despite an increase in labor force participation. Their unemployment rate spiked from 5.1% to 6.1%—a sharp and alarming rise not seen since early 2021.

"Black women are being disproportionately impacted by recent economic headwinds, particularly in retail, healthcare, education, and service sectors," said William Michael Cunningham, economist with Creative Investment Research. "These are industries where Black women are overrepresented and where job security is increasingly fragile."

Meanwhile, Black men saw a decline in their unemployment rate—from 6.1% to 5.6%—due to an increase in employment and a slight drop in the number of unemployed. However, Black youth (ages 16–19) continue to struggle with a jobless rate near 20%, entering the summer season with fewer job opportunities.

Regions most likely affected by this trend include Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, and Dallas, all cities where Black women make up a significant portion of the workforce in vulnerable sectors.

Creative Investment Research calls on policymakers to:

* Fund job training and reskilling programs targeting Black women in high-growth sectors like technology and healthcare.
* Increase access to affordable childcare to reduce barriers to employment.
* Focused crowdfunding, community investment, state and local small business investment and lending stimulus or grants in cities with high unemployment surges among Black women (Atlanta, Chicago, LA).

"The labor market is flashing red for Black women," said Cunningham. "Without urgent and targeted intervention, this trend could become a broader economic crisis."

To see the report, click below:
https://www.impactinvesting.online/2025/05/likely-causes-...