Why Black unemployment just rose to its highest level since January 2022

Unemployment among Black Americans last month reached its highest level in more than three years, in stark contrast to the broader labor market’s stunning resilience.

Unemployment among Black Americans last month reached its highest level in more than three years, in stark contrast to the broader labor market’s resilience. The jobless rate for Black Americans climbed to 6.8% in June, the Labor Department said Thursday, up sharply from May’s 6% and the highest level since January 2022. Meanwhile, the national unemployment rate ticked down to 4.1% and employers added a stronger-than-expected 147,000 jobs in June, according to Thursday’s jobs report. Joblessness also declined for Whites, Hispanics and Asians. President Donald Trump’s chaotic trade war, which paralyzed business decision-making and sparked fears of higher prices, was one factor in the rise in Black unemployment. For months, businesses have said the Trump administration’s significant policy changes — from on-again, off-again tariffs to cuts in federal funding — have made it difficult to plan ahead, prompting some to put hiring plans on hold, according to various surveys. Black Americans are usually impacted first whenever the economy begins to weaken, economists say. Black Americans lag behind their White counterparts in income, wealth, financial savings and home ownership, according to previous CNN reporting. Additionally, the Trump administration has placed diversity, equity and inclusion programs in its crosshairs. “When the economy slows down, Black workers may be impacted more quickly or more severely,” said Daniel Zhao, senior economist at Glassdoor. “But it’s consistent with the broader story for all workers of unemployment trending upwards over the last two years. We’ve just seen more of that for Black workers.”