WASHINGTON - July 4, 2025 - PRLog -- Black communities in the United States are facing a troubling surge in job losses, according to new analysis released by economist William Michael Cunningham of Creative Investment Research. The June 2025 employment report reveals Black male unemployment skyrocketed from 5.2% to 6.9% in a single month, marking the steepest monthly increase outside of the COVID lockdown in more than a decade. Meanwhile, Black women have experienced an estimated 412,000 job losses in 2025 to date, with employment falling from 10.332 million to 10.248 million between May and June.
These alarming findings are detailed in Cunningham's latest blog post, A Troubling Turn: Black Employment Sees Sharp Declines Amid 2025 Labor Market Shifts, available at https://www.impactinvesting.online/2025/07/a-troubling-turn-black-employment-sees.html. Cunningham's analysis shows that, contrary to appearances, the decline in Black women's unemployment rate—from 6.2% in May to 5.8% in June—is not a sign of recovery but a result of Black women leaving the workforce entirely due to discouragement and limited job opportunities.
"These trends are not just numbers—they reflect real economic pain in Black households," said Cunningham. "If left unaddressed, this crisis will widen racial economic disparities and erase hard-won progress."
Black male unemployment spiked by 1.7 percentage points in June alone—181,000 jobs lost.
Overall Black unemployment increased from 6.0% to 6.8% between May and June.
Estimated total job losses among Black women in 2025 reached 412,000.
The apparent drop in Black women's unemployment rate is a statistical distortion, not an improvement.
Cunningham calls for targeted collaboration and cooperation, including investment in Black-owned businesses, expanded job training programs, and grassroots hiring initiatives to support Black workers and rebuild economic stability.
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