The latest employment data paint a stark and concerning picture for Black workers in the U.S. economy. After steady—if uneven—gains in recent years, June 2025 brought a sharp reversal, especially for Black men.
Black Male Unemployment Spikes Dramatically
Black male unemployment surged from 5.2% in May to 6.9% in June—an astonishing jump of 1.7 percentage points in just one month. This represents the second largest monthly increase since the dark days of March-April 2020, when the pandemic lockdowns sent unemployment soaring. In raw numbers, Black men lost 181,000 jobs in June alone, a dramatic and painful setback.
To put this in perspective, outside of the COVID-19 crisis, this is the largest one-month spike in Black male unemployment in at least a decade. Even during the Great Recession, similar jumps occurred over longer periods rather than in a single month.
Overall Black Unemployment Trend
Overall Black unemployment rose from 6.0% to 6.8% in June. This increase reflects a broader struggle in the Black labor market as job losses mount and economic momentum falters. Although the topline number doesn’t match the volatility seen during the pandemic, it signals significant stress for Black households.
Black Women’s Labor Force Shrinks Amid Controversy
The story for Black women is more complex but equally worrisome. While the unemployment rate for Black women fell from 6.2% in May to 5.8% in June, the drop is misleading. The labor force participation rate for Black women declined, and the employment-population ratio dropped. In other words, fewer Black women are working or even looking for work.
Total employment for Black women fell from 10.332 million in May to 10.248 million in June—a loss of 84,000 jobs over the month. Looking back at 2025 as a whole, the cumulative estimated job losses among Black women stand at a staggering 412,000, including 306,000 lost in the first quarter and 106,000 in April alone. While controversy surrounds the accuracy of the 306,000 figure, it nonetheless underscores the deep challenges facing Black women in the workforce.
A Statistical Mirage
The drop in Black women’s unemployment rate appears to be more statistical mirage than real progress. With discouraged workers leaving the labor force altogether, the unemployment rate can decline even as job losses mount—masking the true depth of labor market distress.
A Critical Moment
These figures should serve as a wake-up call for policymakers and employers alike. The Black community is facing the steepest month-over-month employment challenges since the pandemic. Structural barriers, inequities in hiring, and a tightening labor market threaten to erase years of hard-won gains.
Addressing these challenges will require targeted interventions, from job training and support for Black-owned businesses to policies that make workplaces more inclusive and equitable. Without swift action, the risk of long-term economic scarring in Black communities grows.
For more details, see the latest data here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fjAoRLri3Z_zkTrePt2_XW3npvR__geP/view?usp=sharing
Also see https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t02.htm