The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) recently revealed a concerning trend: the unemployment rate for black women surged by a full percentage point in April, marking the most significant increase among any racial demographic.
This rise, from 5.1 percent in March to 6.1 percent in April, represents the highest unemployment rate for black women since 2022. The reasons behind this sharp increase remain elusive, but some have pointed fingers at President Donald Trump's administration, particularly its stance on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, as well as federal job reductions.
According to The Post Millennial, the unemployment rate for black women aged 20 and over has been on an upward trajectory since February 2024, when it stood at 4.4 percent. The outlet AfroTech attributes this decline in employment to the Trump administration's initiatives to dismantle DEI policies, suggesting that "many corporations have followed suit."
This assertion highlights the potential ripple effect of federal policy changes on the private sector, where similar DEI rollbacks may be occurring.
The data paints a stark picture of the federal workforce's changing demographics. Over the past year, the black female federal workforce has shrunk by nearly 33 percent, a stark contrast to the 3.7 percent decrease observed in the overall federal workforce. Despite black women constituting approximately 7.8 percent of the U.S. population, they represented about 13 percent of the federal workforce in 2024.
Economist William Michael Cunningham, as reported by AfroTech, criticized the administration's policies, stating, The unusual nature of this increase in black womens unemployment is a testament to and a direct result of the anti-DEI and anti-black focus of the new administrations policies. He further emphasized the detrimental impact on the black community, describing it as unprecedented.
The overall employment share for black women fell from 59.3 percent in February to 57.7 percent in April, despite a rise in the general workforce participation rate. This decline in black female workforce participation has persisted for two consecutive months, underscoring the unique challenges faced by this demographic.
Andrew Perry, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, shared similar concerns with Bloomberg. He pointed to several factors potentially influencing the employment landscape for black women, including federal layoffs where black individuals are more represented, the economic impact of tariffs on small businesses that employ black women, and the stigmatization of DEI, which may deter hiring.
"The layoffs are the federal level where black people are more represented, the impacts of the tariffs, particularly on small businesses that hire black women, and just the overall use of DEI as a slur, which may be contributing to a lack of hiring of black women, all of these factors are probably at play," Perry explained.
Upon assuming office in January, President Trump swiftly enacted executive orders to dismantle DEI policies within the federal workforce. Additionally, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has advocated for significant federal job cuts as part of efforts to reduce government waste.
These actions reflect a broader conservative agenda that prioritizes streamlined governance and fiscal responsibility, yet they also raise questions about the broader social and economic implications for minority communities, particularly black women, in the workforce.
Login