Black Unemployment Under Trump Reaches New High
The Black unemployment rate has surged to 7.2%, the highest it’s been since the pandemic lows of 2021, according to the latest data from the Department of Labor. The report comes amid rising concern that the Trump administration’s economic strategy is failing America’s most vulnerable workers.
Angela Hanks, chief of policy programs at The Century Foundation, pointed out that Black workers are consistently the most at-risk, especially during times of economic instability. “Black workers are often last hired, first fired,” she said, noting the pattern of rising Black unemployment during economic downturns.
Brandon Weathersby, spokesperson for American Bridge 21st Century, didn’t mince words: “Trump says he’s ‘done more for Black Americans than anyone.’ If pushing Black unemployment to its highest level since 2021 is his idea of progress, we’d hate to see what failure looks like to him.”
Economic Chaos and Policy Cuts Fuel the Trend
Many economists and labor experts point to the instability of Trump’s economic agenda—from erratic tariffs to deep social spending cuts—as a direct cause. Hanks, a former Department of Labor official, says the White House’s “chaotic nature” has made the economy less stable for everyone, but Black workers bear the brunt.
She pointed specifically to Trump’s $3 trillion “One, Big, Beautiful Bill,” which slashed safety net programs like Medicaid and SNAP while granting tax breaks to the wealthy. These cuts, Hanks warned, threaten the economic foundations that help low-income families survive downturns.
Meanwhile, the July jobs report showed a gain of only 73,000 jobs, far below expectations. Trump responded by firing Bureau of Labor Statistics Commissioner Erika McEntarfer, accusing her of manipulating jobs data in favor of Kamala Harris—a baseless claim.
Federal Workforce Shrinkage Disproportionately Affects Black Employees
Adding to the damage, the federal workforce—heavily represented by Black workers—has seen dramatic cuts under Trump’s new policies. Hanks highlighted that many workers are on administrative leave through September, and the elimination of agencies and offices, including the Department of Education and DEI roles, is worsening job insecurity.
The Trump administration has labeled DEI efforts “illegal discrimination”, and their removal is not just symbolic—it dismantles critical civil rights enforcement mechanisms. One such casualty was the Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contracting Compliance Programs, which previously ensured anti-discrimination compliance among federal contractors.
“They’re saying to companies and others that they are willing to put up with discrimination,” Hanks warned, suggesting the administration’s rollback of protections is creating a hostile work environment for Black Americans.
A Warning Sign for the Entire Economy
While the administration touts a 3% GDP growth as evidence of economic strength, experts like Hanks say the spike in Black unemployment is a canary in the coal mine.
“Black workers are often the first to feel the effects of economic decline,” she explained. “So when you see their unemployment rising, it suggests deeper problems that are about to spread.”
With a shrinking federal workforce, slashed civil rights protections, and job instability on the rise, the question looms: Is this the beginning of a broader economic downturn?
