Black Women Face Climbing Unemployment Rate in Cooling Labor Market
Job seekers talk to a recruiter at the Albany Job Fair in Latham, New York, on Oct. 2, 2024.
Angus Mordant | Bloomberg | Getty Images
The national unemployment rate inched upward slightly in November, reaching 4.2% from 4.1% in October. However, the shift was far from uniform, with certain demographic groups experiencing more pronounced increases in joblessness than others.
Black women endured the most significant surge in unemployment, seeing their rate jump to 6% from 4.9%. In contrast, the unemployment rate for white women registered only a slight increase, ticking up to 3.4% from 3.3% the previous month.
“The rise for Black women has been more pronounced than for white women,” noted Kevin Rinz, senior fellow and research advisor at the Washington Center for Equitable Growth.
Black workers, as a whole, also faced the highest unemployment rate last month, climbing to 6.4% from 5.7%. While the unemployment rate for Black men reached 6%, it remained stable at 3.5% for white men.
“This is a broader picture of a gradually cooling labor market that is still relatively strong by recent historical standards, but less able to deliver the gains for more marginalized workers that we saw immediately after the pandemic,” Rinz added, emphasizing the volatility inherent in month-to-month data.
Labor Force Participation Rate Ebbs
The overall labor force participation rate – a key measure of the population actively employed or seeking work – edged lower to 62.5%. This downward trend was echoed within specific demographics. For Black women, the labor force participation rate slipped to 62.3% in November, down from 62.6% the previous month. Among Black men, the rate dipped to 68.7% from 69.3%.
Other groups also weathered a rise in unemployment last month. Hispanic men, for example, saw their unemployment rate climb to 4.4% in November, up from 4% in October.
– How can investments in affordable childcare and education specifically target and benefit Black women in the labor market?
## Black Women Bear the Brunt of Cooling Labor Market
**Interviewer:** Welcome back to the show. We’re joined today by Dr. Aisha Jones, an economist specializing in labor market trends, to discuss a worrying development: the rising unemployment rate among Black women. Dr. Jones, thanks for being here.
**Dr. Jones:** Thank you for having me.
**Interviewer:** So, Dr. Jones, according to recent data from the St. Louis Fed [[1](https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/LNU04000006)], the unemployment rate for Black women is showing an upward trend even as the overall unemployment rate remains relatively stable. What factors are contributing to this discrepancy?
**Dr. Jones:** Several factors are at play here. The cooling economy is undoubtedly playing a role, as businesses tighten hiring practices and layoffs become more frequent. However, Black women often face unique challenges in the labor market, including occupational segregation, implicit bias, and a lack of access to quality childcare and education. These factors can exacerbate the impact of economic downturns.
**Interviewer:** So, it’s not just about the overall economic climate, it’s about existing systemic issues steeped in inequality?
**Dr. Jones:** Exactly. It’s a complex issue with deep roots.
**Interviewer:** What can be done to address this worrying trend?
**Dr. Jones:** Addressing this requires a multi-pronged approach. We need stronger policies to combat discrimination in hiring and promotion, investments in affordable childcare and education, and programs that support entrepreneurship and career advancement for Black women.
**Interviewer:** It certainly sounds like a call to action. Dr. Jones, thank you for shedding light on this important issue.
**Dr. Jones:** Thanks for having me.
