Black women's unemployment spikes amid Trump's federal workforce cuts

Data: Bureau of Labor Statistics; Chart: Axios VisualsThe unemployment rate for Black women rose sharply in August to 7.5%, per government data released Friday morning.Why it matters: That's significantly higher than the overall unemployment rate, and is partly a result of President Trump's cuts to the federal workforce, which have disproportionately hit Black women.A backlash in the diversity, equity and inclusion space has also hit this group.By the numbers: In January, Black women's unemployment rate was 5.4%, and the overall rate was 4%.Now, the rate for Black women has spiked more than two percentage points, while the overall rate has crept up only by 0.3 percentage points.Between the lines: Women make up a slight minority of the federal workforce but represent the majority of employees among the agencies targeted by the White House, including USAID, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Department of Education, where Black women made up 28% of workers.Overall, Black women make up 12% of the federal workforce — near double their share in the overall labor force, the New York Times recently noted.Zoom out: The federal government has lost 97,000 jobs so far this year, per the Labor Department's latest release. That doesn't yet account for those government employees who took the "fork in the road," or deferred resignation.Those workers won't count as unemployed until the end of this month.Go deeper: Why unemployment for Black women is rising

Comments

World news

Court stops Trump’s attempt to fire Fed Board Governor Lisa Cook

Independent

Comments

Similar News

Historically Black colleges see funding boost despite Trump's war on DEI

Trump team plans to give historically black and tribal colleges $500 million in money taken from DEI program cuts

Conrad Black: I was with Trump when Charlie Kirk died. He grieved like a leader

Conrad Black: Liberal intransigence threatens to pull Canada apart

Black students and colleges across US targeted with racist threats day after Charlie Kirk killing

New York’s great Gowanus clean-up: can toxic ‘black mayonnaise’ become commuter gold?

"Terroristic threats" disrupt life at Black schools across the U.S.

TOM LEONARD: How the savage murder of a white Ukrainian refugee by a black serial criminal has opened a new front in America's toxic race wars

Black Hebrew fighter pilot at Lockheed Martin claims boss tried repeatedly to convert him to Christianity

From George to Breonna to Eric: What happens to police officers who kill Black people

Into the Sands of Time: Exploring Egypt’s White and Black Deserts

‘It’s pitch black’: Streetlight outages leave northeast Calgary residents in the dark

Black man shot at while waiting to go to work calls for hate crime law

Black man targeted in racist attack says South Carolina needs hate crime law

Black man shot at while waiting to go to work says South Carolina needs hate crime law

Exclusive: Robert Kraft's org holding Black, Jewish student "unity" dinners in 14 cities

Conrad Black: The derangement over Trump marches on

Black applicants twice as likely to be rejected for a US mortgage

Black server at Cracker Barrel was called ‘burnt biscuit’ by coworkers as bosses did nothing to stop racism: suit

YouTube commenter arrested after allegedly posting threat to ‘shoot and skin’ Black preschoolers

World news

Court stops Trump’s attempt to fire Fed Board Governor Lisa Cook

Wellington Bridge closure worries small business owners in west-central Edmonton

Recreate our favourite beauty looks from TIFF 2025

Lethbridge first responders celebrate 1 year of youth initiative

Bridgeland business speaks out about street being ripped up 3 times in a year

Alberta takes teachers’ union to labour board over accusations of false claims

Schwarzenegger decries polarization, criticizes Newsom's gerrymandering effort

Face-to-face with Zelenskyy, his frustration is clear

Zelenskyy makes demand of Trump - and issues warning to NATO

Republicans dare Democrats on avoiding government shutdown

Trump nominee Miran confirmed to Fed ahead of rate decision

Scoop: A group of House Democrats has a steep demand list to stop a shutdown

Republicans scramble to kick Ilhan Omar off committees over her Charlie Kirk comments

SEC "prioritizing" Trump bid to change public company reporting rules

Thousands flagged to face "consequences" for cheering Charlie Kirk's death

Appeals court rules Fed governor Cook can continue to serve

Queer advocacy group asks mayor, council to declare Calgary a sanctuary city

California man steals ambulance from paramedics attending fatal stabbing near high school, say cops

As Charlie Kirk crisscrossed the country, security levels varied from venue to venue

Elon Musk piggybacks Tommy Robinson and brings his troll show to Britain after being banished from the White House

SC lawmaker wants to pull funding from major college over three faculty members’ alleged Charlie Kirk comments

Trump hints at how he could arrest flag burners despite free speech protections

Lone survivor of East Vancouver triple stabbing dies in hospital

Trump deploys U.S. troops to Memphis in ‘replica’ of D.C. crime crackdown

Saskatchewan family demands action after 2-year-long murder investigation

Israel, U.S. show unity as other allies condemn attack on Qatar

The US and China have a new TikTok “deal”

First deportation flight to France ‘stalled after last-minute challenge’

Historically Black colleges see funding boost despite Trump's war on DEI

Trump sending National Guard to Memphis, says Chicago's "probably next"

US Army reveals Typhon missile system in Japan as tensions rise with China

B.C. company takes Saskatchewan government to court over firefighting aviation contract

Riders unveil Co-op Community Zone at Mosaic Stadium with more than 2,000 low-cost seats

Three dead babies found in a Pennsylvania home weeks after a woman was evicted: cops

Why Trump blimp won’t make an appearance at this week’s UK state visit

Trump sends National Guard to Memphis after DC takeover and eyes Chicago next

New Mexico man shot and killed two workers at auto parts store over free oil cans, cops say

MTG calls for a ‘national divorce’ and for left leaners to split from the conservatives in wake of Charlie Kirk shooting

Democratic lawmaker wants drones at public events to scope out and stop assassinations

Southern resident orca mother seen pushing deceased calf

27 sickened by salmonella in outbreak linked to dog food and treats

Police issue arrest warrant for Ontario mother who allegedly fled to Russia with child

Blue Jays select Yesavage to big-league roster

Could passenger-only vessels be part of BC Ferries’ future?

Indian Activist Passes Five Years in Pretrial Detention

The Age of the Meme Shooter Is Here

U.S., China Reach ‘Framework’ TikTok Deal

Israel launches offensive to occupy Gaza City

Trump backs Patel amid MAGA divide over FBI director

Mummies found in southeast Asia could be world's oldest, scientists say

Trump says three killed in US strike on alleged Venezuelan drug vessel

DC-style crackdown on crime coming to Memphis, Tennessee, Trump says

A look at the pomp and pageantry that will define Trump's U.K. summit

Trump World’s Deals With the U.A.E.

Canadiens’ Hutson says he’s a ‘USA Hockey player’ after dad’s comments spark stir

Who really wins as companies continue loyalty program push?

Trump announces new strike on Venezuelan boat and death of three ‘narcoterrorists’