Black Female Unemployment Reaches 7.5% as Boston Experts Examine Causes and Economic Impact

‎A packed gathering at a downtown Boston library brought policymakers, experts and community leaders together to discuss the rising unemployment rate among Black women. Rep. Ayanna Pressley opened the roundtable by questioning why Black women, who consistently maintain some of the nation’s highest labor force participation rates, are experiencing faster unemployment growth than most other demographic groups.

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‎Black female unemployment rose to 7.5%. Boston experts analyze economic pressures, policy impacts, and potential solutions to support Black women workers.

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‎The unemployment rate for Black women increased from 6.7% to 7.5% between August and September, based on the most recent federal data available before the government shutdown. The same period showed an increase from 3.2% to 3.4% for white women. Attendees said the numbers reflect a trend that has persisted for a year during broader economic uncertainty.

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‎Many participants described the data as a sign of mounting pressures on Black women across the labor market. Pressley stated that the workforce loses significant expertise when Black women face rising unemployment or underemployment, adding that underemployment remains a recurring issue for many Black women even when they secure jobs.

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‎Black women recorded the highest labor force participation rate of any female demographic in 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Their unemployment rate, however, continues to exceed that of other female groups. Long-term patterns show that Black women’s unemployment has historically remained slightly above the national average, expanding further during periods of slower economic growth or recession. Black Americans remain overrepresented in industries such as retail, health and social services, and government administration, according to a 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics survey.

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‎PhD candidate Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman noted that April marked the point when unemployment among Black women began diverging more sharply from other demographics. She highlighted the broader economic implications of overlooking the underlying causes.

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‎Roundtable members referenced several longstanding structural inequities but attributed much of the recent shift to federal policy changes. Speakers cited the Trump administration’s downsizing of the Minority Business Development Agency and the cancellation of some federal contracts with nonprofits and small businesses, saying these moves disproportionately affected Black women. Others pointed to tariff policies and federal layoffs as additional sources of strain.

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‎The administration’s stance on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives was repeatedly mentioned by participants, who said the environment created challenges for Black women seeking employment, business opportunities or government contracts. There is no confirmed data on how many Black federal workers were affected by the administration’s workforce cuts.

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‎Attendees outlined possible strategies for addressing rising unemployment among Black women. Proposed actions included using state budgets to strengthen business development for Black women, expanding microloan access, enhancing government contracting resources, increasing corporate hiring transparency and ensuring stronger enforcement of anti-discrimination policies.

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‎Boston City Council President Ruthzee Louijeune emphasized the importance of continued efforts to support Black women in the workforce. She defended DEI initiatives as essential to maintaining a representative workforce and political system and said that workplaces and leadership spaces should reflect the diversity of the country’s population.