The unemployment rate for Black women is on the decline, according to a new NBC Money report.
Released this week, the report tracked the unemployment rates across all demographics for the month of December. According to the researchers, Black women marked the largest decrease, with the rate dropping down to 5.4% from the previously recorded 5.9% in November.
The change in the span of one month comes as more Black women are getting involved in the U.S. workforce; per the report, the rate of Black women taking part in the workforce or actively looking for employment has increased up to 62.4%.
As for Black men, they also marked a decrease in the unemployment rate, with the percentage declining from 6% in November to 5.6% in December.
The overall rate for Black women and men marked a significant improvement following a concerning increase from 5.7% in October to 6.4% in November. As of December, the unemployment rate fell to 6.1%.
“There were some concerns about the Black unemployment rate going up,” said a senior economist at the Economic Policy Institute Elise Gould per NBC. “It’s still significantly higher than for other groups — and that’s still a concern — but nothing in this report jumps out as particularly problematic.”
The improvement in the unemployment rate for Black workers comes amid continued reports by researchers highlighting significant job market disparities. Per an ABC report released early last year, Black workers consistently record an unemployment rate that is twice as high as that of white people, according to data collected by the U.S. Department of Labor spanning from 1972 to 2024.
The relationship is exacerbated by continued racial discrimination in U.S. workforces, with many economists highlighting the fact that Black workers are more often the first to be fired but the last to be hired.
According to researchers, Black workers are often overlooked and offered positions only after their white counterparts. Disparities in preparation for positions also exist, with experts like the president of the National Urban League, Marc Morial, pointing to disparities in education and skills.
Along with the National Urban League, a variety of nonprofits exist that are aimed at addressing these significant disparities. These nonprofits include the Equal Justice Initiative, Black Girls Code, Center for Black Equity and the Black Resilience Fund.
