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Black unemployment is at a record low, but tight financial conditions could change that

May 30, 2023
Black men made gains in warehousing and transportation, which tend to offer low wages. A recession could hit workers of color hard, economist Michelle Holder says
The transportation and warehousing sector, where Black men are well-represented, has expanded swiftly since the 2020 downturn. Economist Michelle Holder warns that the next recession could hit workers of color hard.
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Black workers could suffer more in employment slowdown

Sep 2, 2022
"The Black workforce is the canary in the coal mine," said Howard University's Bill Spriggs. "They’re already suffering."
Black workers now account for 20% of the transportation and utilities workforce.
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Unemployment rate for Black workers going the wrong way as benefits expire

Sep 6, 2021
Black workers were the only racial or ethnic group for whom unemployment rose in the most recent monthly data — to nearly 9%.
A woman walks past the an employment services center in Washington, D.C., in July 2020. In the most recent unemployment report, Black workers were the only racial or ethnic group to see unemployment rise.
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

Why are unemployment rates higher for Black and Hispanic workers?

Jun 22, 2021
Economists point to structural racism and a lack of access to training and transportation among the factors.
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Analysis finds racial disparity in pandemic unemployment benefits

Jun 21, 2021
White unemployment applicants were more likely to get relief than Black applicants.
A new report shows that Black applicants were less likely to receive federal unemployment benefits when compared to white applicants — something which also occurred during the Great Recession.
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

Black, Latino workers much more likely to have unemployment claims rejected, analysis finds

Jul 31, 2020
Black and Latino workers made up nearly 40% of the unemployed, but were less than 20% of aid recipients.
Analysis from the Bipartisan Policy Center, a Washington think tank, finds that Black and Latino workers are having their unemployment claims rejected at disproportionately higher rates, compared to white workers.
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

African-American unemployment is nearly twice as high as white unemployment

Mar 12, 2018
Black women are starting their own businesses at the highest rate of any demographic group, report says.
A job seeker fills out a registration form as he waits to enter the San Francisco Hirevent job fair at the Hotel Whitcomb on March 27, 2012 in San Francisco, California.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

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