• Latest BLS data shows Black jobless rate jumped to 8.3 percent in November
• Federal workforce cuts under DOGE cited as key factor in rising racial disparity
• White House defends economic policies while critics demand Federal Reserve action

WASHINGTON, D.C. (TDR) — The unemployment rate for Black Americans has surged to 8.3 percent, marking the highest level since August 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic and nearly double the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics released the delayed November data on December 16, revealing a stark racial disparity that has widened dramatically since President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January.

The Black unemployment rate stood at 6.2 percent when Trump was inaugurated, meaning the rate has climbed more than two percentage points in less than a year. By comparison, the overall unemployment rate rose to 4.6 percent, the highest level in nearly five years, while white unemployment remained relatively stable at approximately 3.7 percent throughout the year.

Federal Workforce Cuts Drive Disparity

Economists point to the mass layoffs initiated by the Department of Government Efficiency, known as DOGE, as a significant driver of the widening gap. Federal civilian employment fell by approximately 271,000 workers from January to November 2025, representing about a 9 percent decline in less than a year—a pace not seen outside of post-war demobilizations.

“The federal government has always been a place where Black people have been able to find employment—quality jobs, benefits, things like that. There’s just been this kind of push toward reducing the federal government through all different means.”

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That assessment from Gbenga Ajilore, chief economist at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, reflects longstanding research showing Black workers are overrepresented in federal government employment relative to their share of the population. Employment in the federal government dropped by 168,000 in October and November alone as DOGE-directed layoffs and resignations became official.

Black Women Bear Heaviest Burden

The data reveals that Black women have been particularly affected by the shifting labor market. Black women’s unemployment stood at 7.1 percent in November, up from 5.4 percent in January. The National Partnership for Women & Families reported that women lost 35,000 jobs between September and November, with federal workforce reductions disproportionately affecting this demographic.

The unemployment rate for Black teens has been even more alarming, reaching 30.7 percent in November—almost doubling the 18.1 percent recorded in November 2024. Teen unemployment overall hit 16.3 percent, the highest level since August 2020 during the height of pandemic restrictions.

White House Defends Economic Record

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In a Truth Social post on Friday, President Trump defended the rising unemployment figures by pointing to government workforce reductions.

“The only reason our Unemployment ticked up to 4.5% is because we are reducing the Government Workforce by numbers that have never been seen before. 100% OF OUR NEW JOBS ARE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR!”

White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers defended the administration’s approach, stating that Trump is implementing the same America First economic agenda that delivered record-low Black unemployment rates during his first term, when the rate fell to 5.4 percent before the pandemic struck.

Critics Demand Federal Reserve Action

The Congressional Black Caucus has called for urgent intervention. Representatives Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts and Yvette Clarke, chairwoman of the caucus, wrote to Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell requesting a briefing on how the central bank plans to address the crisis.

NAACP President Derrick Johnson offered a blunt assessment of the economic conditions facing Black workers.

“If we had to give Donald Trump’s economy a grade, it would be an F.”

The historical pattern of Black workers being “last hired, first fired” during economic downturns appears to be repeating itself. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Black unemployment peaked at 16.7 percent in April 2020, compared to 14.2 percent for white workers. The recovery was notably slower for Black workers as well, with the racial unemployment gap widening even as overall numbers improved.

The Black unemployment rate reached its historic low of 4.8 percent in April 2023 under the Biden administration before beginning its current upward trajectory. Economists from the Center for American Progress warn that conditions for Black workers have historically foreshadowed broader economic weakness—a pattern they say should concern policymakers across the political spectrum.

With the Federal Reserve facing calls for intervention and the administration defending its workforce reduction strategy, will economic conditions for Black workers stabilize before the gap widens further?

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