By Kevin Harris and Richard McDaniel
Donald Trump’s affordability crisis has brought a troubling reality to Black working class voters. Despite Trump touting a “strong” labor market, prices are increasing and unemployment is rising faster for Black men and women.
According to the most recent Bureau of Labor Statistics data, the unemployment rate for Black Americans sits at 7.5%, well above the national average of 4.4%, and significantly higher than the roughly 3.8% for White workers. This elevated rate persists even as overall jobless figures appear stable.
For Black women in particular, the picture is especially stark. Their unemployment rate is high relative to other groups and has risen sharply over the past year. Recent analysis suggests Black women’s unemployment rose to 7.3% in late 2025, up from around 5.4% earlier in the year. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of Black women have exited the workforce altogether, often driven out by layoffs, caregiving pressures, and the erosion of remote work flexibility.
Roughly 300,000 Black women have been displaced from employment, many pushed out by structural exclusion as opportunity dries up in sectors where they have historically found work. Trump’s assault on the federal workforce also exacerbated displacement.
These figures are more than numbers. They represent Black families losing economic footing, fewer family-supporting jobs, shrinking consumer spending, and greater strain on small businesses in Black communities.
As Houston small-business owner Joyaa Cole put it to CNN: “When unemployment rises in our communities, it has a rippling effect across entire industries — not just retail but housing, healthcare and more.”
The long-standing Black unemployment gap has widened in the face of technological shifts like AI adoption, making it harder for Black workers to enter — and re-enter — the workforce.
Black American’s buying power is expected to exceed $2 trillion this year but an increase in Black unemployment would hit the U.S. economy hard.
Historically, Black workers have always been the first to lose jobs in downturns and the last to be rehired in recoveries. Recent data shows that pattern repeating. Since early 2025, overall employment levels for Black adults have declined, even as other groups’ participation remains steadier.
And while employment rates among Black men have been described as “more stable,” they remain well above the broader national averages. Long-term prospects for Black men are being squeezed as certain industries contract and automation reshapes labor demand.
So how do we respond? At the moment, Democrats are riding high on recent electoral successes as working class voters sour on Trump and his affordability crisis. The party is actively debating if the influence of wealthy donors translates into watered down economic platforms that don’t go far enough to help the working class.
But Democrats know what works. Direct investment in job creation — particularly in infrastructure, healthcare, caregiving, and education — can stabilize Black employment quickly. Strengthening labor protections, expanding access to quality education and training, and supporting reskilling for emerging industries would reduce the likelihood that Black workers are the first fired and last rehired. Policies like expanded unemployment benefits, childcare support, and robust anti-discrimination enforcement are equally essential.
Just as important is confronting the structural barriers that have shaped labor market outcomes for decades. Black unemployment numbers are reflections of communities being left behind. Rising unemployment among Black men and women isn’t inevitable. Black economic struggle is the consequence of policy choices. The choices we make now, to act early, decisively, and equitably, will determine whether this moment becomes another chapter in persistent inequality for Black America or the beginning of meaningful change.
The choice for Democrats is clear. If we want to expand our base with working class Black voters, then we should reject watered down policies that nibble around the edges and instead fight for big, bold, and meaningful change.
Kevin Harris and Richard McDaniel are veteran Democratic strategists with over 100 political campaigns between them, including the past five presidential elections and several congressional races. They co-host “Maroon Bison Presents: The Southern Comfort Podcast.”
