Black Women's Unemployment Rises to 6.2% in May, Slightly Below Forecast

WASHINGTON - June 6, 2025 - PRLog -- New federal employment data released today shows the unemployment rate for Black women rose to 6.2% in May 2025, up from 6.1% in April. The increase aligns with economic forecasts predicting ongoing labor market weakness among Black women, though it came in slightly below the 6.4% rate projected by Creative Investment Research.

"Our projection of 6.4% was based on several distress signals in the economy, particularly those affecting Black women," said William Michael Cunningham, economist and founder of Creative Investment Research. "These included the loss of 106,000 jobs in April and the ongoing reversal of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies in both the public and private sectors."

A key factor in the forecast was the surge in layoffs across tech and services industries. According to Challenger, Gray & Christmas, U.S. employers announced 92% more job cuts in May than in April, as reported by Quartz. These sectors were among those that had previously made modest gains in hiring Black women, gains now under threat.

While the 6.2% figure suggests some short-term stabilization, deeper analysis reveals signs of economic strain:

Labor force participation among Black women continues to decline, signaling increased discouragement.

Job gains are likely concentrated in low-wage or temporary roles, offering little long-term security.

The overall unemployment rate for Black workers remains significantly higher than the national average.

"This is not a sign of recovery—it's a warning," Cunningham said. "Without targeted investment and support, we expect Black women's unemployment could easily exceed 6.4% this summer, particularly as temporary employment phases out and public sector layoffs continue."

Creative Investment Research urges policymakers and private sector leaders to take immediate action to address these trends by:

1. Investing in Black women's workforce development and job retention programs.
2. Monitoring the racial and gender equity impacts of layoffs and restructuring.
3. Reinstating and strengthening DEI initiatives across sectors.

For more information see: https://www.impactinvesting.online/2025/06/black-unemploy... or please contact:
info@creativeinvest.com
202-455-0430

About Creative Investment Research - Creative Investment Research is an economic and financial analysis firm focused on impact investing, ESG, and minority economic development. For over 30 years, the firm has produced cutting-edge research and forecasts on labor markets, access to capital, and economic equity.