Disproportionate rise in Black unemployment reveals ongoing inequality

According to a report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly 90 percent of the recent unemployment spike in the U.S. since April is comprised of Black Americans. Black workers accounted for about 267,000 of the 300,000 new unemployment cases, resulting in a 6 percent unemployment rate for the demographic, almost twice the rate of White employment. The rise in unemployment among Black and Hispanic Americans highlights the unequal impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on different racial and ethnic groups, potentially eroding the gains made by vulnerable workers. Overall, U.S. unemployment stands at 3.6 percent, similar to pre-pandemic levels, while inflation has remained stable.