Tag Archives: black men

African America’s August 2025 Jobs Report – 7.5%

Overall Unemployment: 4.1%

African America: 7.2%

Latino America: 5.3%

European America: 3.7%

Asian America: 3.6%

Analysis: European Americans’ unemployment rate was unchanged from July. Asian Americans decreased 30 basis points and Latino Americans increased 30 basis points from July, respectively. African America’s unemployment rate increased by 30 basis points from July.

AFRICAN AMERICAN EMPLOYMENT REVIEW

AFRICAN AMERICAN MEN: 

Unemployment Rate – 7.1%

Participation Rate – 69.8%

Employed – 9,893,000

Unemployed – 753,000

African American Men (AAM) saw a increase in their unemployment rate by 10 basis points in August. The group had an increase in their participation rate in August by 190 basis points, there highest participation rate in the past five months. African American Men gained 270,000 jobs in August and saw their number of unemployed increase by 30,000.

AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN: 

Unemployment Rate – 6.7%

Participation Rate – 61.4%

Employed – 10,260,000

Unemployed – 739,000

African American Women saw a increase in their unemployment rate by 40 basis points in August. The group increased their participation rate in August by 30 basis points. African American Women gained 13,000 jobs in August and saw their number of unemployed increase by 45,000.

AFRICAN AMERICAN TEENAGERS:

Unemployment Rate – 24.8%

Participation Rate – 29.3%

Employed – 590,000

Unemployed – 195,000

African American Teenagers unemployment rate increased by 310 basis points. The group saw their participation rate increased by 10 basis points in August. African American Teenagers lost 24,000 jobs in August and saw their number of unemployed also increase 25,000.

African American Men-Women Job Gap: African American Women currently have 367,000 more jobs than African American Men in August. This is an decrease from 624,000 in July.

CONCLUSION: The overall economy added 22,000 jobs in August while African America added 260,000 jobs. From Reuters,”The warning bell that rang in the labor market a month ago just got louder,” Olu Sonola, head of U.S. economic research at Fitch Ratings in New York, said in reference to the U.S. labor market. “A weaker-than-expected jobs report all but seals a 25-basis-point rate cut later this month.” Fed Chair Jerome Powell had already reinforced rate cut speculation with an unexpectedly dovish speech at last month’s Fed symposium in Jackson Hole.”

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

African America’s July 2025 Jobs Report – 7.2%

Overall Unemployment: 4.1%

African America: 7.2%

Latino America: 4.8%

European America: 3.7%

Asian America: 3.5%

Analysis: European Americans’ unemployment rate increased 10 basis points. Asian Americans increased 40 basis points and Latino Americans increased 20 basis points from June, respectively. African America’s unemployment rate increased by 40 basis points from June.

AFRICAN AMERICAN EMPLOYMENT REVIEW

AFRICAN AMERICAN MEN: 

Unemployment Rate – 7.0%

Participation Rate – 67.9%

Employed – 9,623,000

Unemployed – 723,000

African American Men (AAM) saw a increase in their unemployment rate by 10 basis points in July. The group had a precipitous drop in their participation rate in July by 90 basis points. African American Men lost 129,000 jobs in July and saw their number of unemployed increase by 2,000.

AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN: 

Unemployment Rate – 6.3%

Participation Rate – 61.1%

Employed – 10,247,000

Unemployed – 694,000

African American Women saw a increase in their unemployment rate by 50 basis points in July. The group increased their participation rate in July by 20 basis points. African American Women lost 1,000 jobs in July and saw their number of unemployed increase by 60,000.

AFRICAN AMERICAN TEENAGERS:

Unemployment Rate – 21.7%

Participation Rate – 29.2%

Employed – 614,000

Unemployed – 170,000

African American Teenagers unemployment rate increased by 250 basis points. The group saw their participation rate decreased by 80 basis points in July. African American Teenagers added 37,000 jobs in July and saw their number of unemployed also increase 15,000.

African American Men-Women Job Gap: African American Women currently have 624,000 more jobs than African American Men in July. This is an increase from 496,000 in June.

CONCLUSION: The overall economy added 73,000 jobs in July while African America lost 166,000 jobs. From CNBC, “This is a gamechanger jobs report,” said Heather Long, chief economist at Navy Federal Credit Union. “The labor market is deteriorating quickly.” The weak report, including the dramatic revisions, could provide incentive for the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates when it next meets in September. Following the report, futures traders raised the odds of a cut at the meeting to 75.5%, up from 40% on Thursday, according to CME Group data.”

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

A Letter To Malcolm

I’ve always been a poet. My dad went to Lincoln University with Gil-Scott Heron, so I came out of the womb listening to Gil-Scott Heron. – Malcolm Jamal-Warner

Dear Malcolm,

I will never forget where I was when the alert came on my phone. I was sitting in the woods for work. We were having a retreat of sorts in the Santa Fe National Forest for the morning. The cellphone service was spotty at best and most of the time my service said SOS. But every now and then I would get one bar and notifications would come pouring in. Around late morning early noon an alert from the Associated Press came in that you had passed and my entire insides collapsed. I had to find every way I could to hold it together. The disbelief helped. That cannot be right, but of course it coming from the Associated Press made it almost impossible for it to be an error. Yet, I hoped it was. My mind raced to find composure. I certainly could not shout out what I just saw on my phone. It would not make sense to anyone around me. While I am sure there are some around my age that work with me I cannot readily think of who. Even moreso, I am the only African American in my organization. It would not make sense to anyone to break down in tears at that moment. To have to explain why you are crying over a celebrity, but in a space of African Americans we know you were never that even if you were that.

It is complicated at times to understand cousins and play siblings AKA “Brother/Sister from another Mother” to those outside of our community. These connections are deep and I do mean DEEP. There are cousins who I have not spoken to in years who could call me right now and I would get on the first plane smoking to go defend them in whatever capacity they needed. They just need say the word. You became that to so many of us. A cousin and/or brother from another mother. You were an eclectic soul and that meant the world to me. You explored the world and your curiousities without feeling bound. Something I so deeply value in my own life. To explore your interests without worry of what anyone would think and say. Many wish they could live life without those restrictions and you did it effortlessly. You never “Sold Out” or went “Hollywood” on us. You were always willing to speak up and speak about the African American community in a manner that felt real and felt true. I appreciated that despite your own admitted struggles of feeling like enough you overflowed the cups of so many African American boys and girls who grew up with you.

Since you left us I kept thinking about how to describe you to the world as I saw you. You were a regular Brotha who was EXCEPTIONAL. That is all I keep thinking as I grapple with the tears of knowing another Brotha being gone far too soon. I took for granted that we would see you in our older years. That you would continue to impart your wisdom of how you saw the world and just the shining example of being an African American man, son, brother, husband, father, and all the complex layers that come with the lives we live.

There is no need to discuss your accomplishments. We all know them. We all lived them with you. I told a friend today you were someone who I wished I could meet one day and share ideas for our community and knew you would understand. They would be ideas you would love and embrace and support. For me, there are so few that I believe I could have those conversations with in the world and deeply saddens me that now there is one less person in this world I feel I can realte to and who would understand me. It took a lot to hold it together the rest of that day. Until I get home and sit with the stages of grief that it feels like the entirety of African America is trying to find the words for day after day right now. I think about your daughter and wife. How you really were the regular guy just enjoying a family vacation. The regular guy who loved being a father and put her flower in your fitted cap as you left us your final message. It still feels like one of the worst dreams I have ever had. For a community that needs good Brothas and often feels like we have too few this is a blow that I am uncertain we will ever an answer for anytime soon – if ever. I could go on, but there is no need. All I can do, all any of us can do from today forward is think of you, reminisce of you, and try each day to carry just a little of the light you showed to the world in our own way.

May the Ancestors welcome you home.

Your Cousin and Brother from Another Mother,

William

African America’s June 2025 Jobs Report – 6.8%

Overall Unemployment: 4.1%

African America: 6.8%

Latino America: 4.8%

European America: 3.6%

Asian America: 3.5%

Analysis: European Americans’ unemployment rate has remained steady for four straight months with virtually no change in unemployment rate. Asian Americans decreased 10 basis points and Latino Americans decreased 30 basis points from May, respectively. African America’s unemployment rate increased by 80 basis points from May.

AFRICAN AMERICAN EMPLOYMENT REVIEW

AFRICAN AMERICAN MEN: 

Unemployment Rate – 6.9%

Participation Rate – 68.8%

Employed – 9,752,000

Unemployed – 721,000

African American Men (AAM) saw a increase in their unemployment rate by 170 basis points in June. The group had a mild rebound in their participation rate in June by 30 basis points. African American Men lost 117,000 jobs in June and saw their number of unemployed increase by 181,000.

AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN: 

Unemployment Rate – 5.8%

Participation Rate – 60.9%

Employed – 10,248,000

Unemployed – 634,000

African American Women saw a decrease in their unemployment rate by 40 basis points in June. The group decreased their participation rate in June by 80 basis points. African American Women lost 84,000 jobs in June and saw their number of unemployed decrease by 50,000.

AFRICAN AMERICAN TEENAGERS:

Unemployment Rate – 19.2%

Participation Rate – 30.0%

Employed – 651,000

Unemployed – 155,000

African American Teenagers unemployment rate increased by 480 basis points. The group saw their participation rate increased by 210 basis points in June. African American Teenagers added 10,000 jobs in May and saw their number of unemployed also decrease 41,000.

African American Men-Women Job Gap: African American Women currently have 496,000 more jobs than African American Men in June. This is an increase from 463,000 in May.

CONCLUSION: The overall economy added 147,000 jobs in June while African America lost 193,000 jobs. From CNN, “It is becoming harder for Americans to find work: The average duration of unemployment rose from 21.8 weeks to 23 weeks, and the share of unemployed workers who have been out of a job for 27 weeks or longer rose to 23.3%, edging closer to a three-year high. Trump’s tariffs — and the dizzying back and forth on implementing them and pausing them — has caused many businesses to stall major decision-making or spending, including hiring.”

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

African America’s May 2025 Jobs Report – 6.0%

Overall Unemployment: 4.2%

African America: 6.0%

Latino America: 5.1%

European America: 3.8%

Asian America: 3.6%

Analysis: European Americans’ unemployment rate has remained steady for four straight months with virtually no change in unemployment rate. Asian Americans increased 60 basis points and Latino Americans decreased 10 basis points from April, respectively. African America’s unemployment rate decreased by 30 basis points from April. Unemployment rates across all groups seem to be leveling off despite 

AFRICAN AMERICAN EMPLOYMENT REVIEW

AFRICAN AMERICAN MEN: 

Unemployment Rate – 5.2%

Participation Rate – 68.5%

Employed – 9,869,000

Unemployed – 540,000

African American Men (AAM) saw a decrease in their unemployment rate by 40 basis points in May. The group had a noticeable decrease in their participation rate in May by 70 basis points. African American Men lost 48,000 jobs in May and saw their number of unemployed drop by 47,000.

AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN: 

Unemployment Rate – 6.2%

Participation Rate – 61.7%

Employed – 10,332,000

Unemployed – 684,000

African American Women saw an increase in their unemployment rate by 10 basis points in May. The group increased their participation rate in May by 50 basis points. African American Women added 72,000 jobs in May and saw their number of unemployed increase by 21,000.

AFRICAN AMERICAN TEENAGERS:

Unemployment Rate – 14.4%

Participation Rate – 27.9%

Employed – 641,000

Unemployed – 108,000

African American Teenagers unemployment rate decreased by 520 basis points. The group saw their participation rate decreased by 40 basis points in May. African American Teenagers added 31,000 jobs in May and saw their number of unemployed also decrease 41,000.

African American Men-Women Job Gap: African American Women currently have 463,000 more jobs than African American Men in May. This is an increase from 344,000 in April.

CONCLUSION: The overall economy added 139,000 jobs in May while African America added 56,000 jobs. From CNBC, “Nearly half the job growth came from health care, which added 62,000, even higher than its average gain of 44,000 over the past year. Leisure and hospitality contributed 48,000 while social assistance added 16,000. On the downside, government lost 22,000 jobs as efforts to cull the federal workforce by President Donald Trump and the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency began to show an impact.”

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics