United States Employment: NH: Black or African American data was reported at 19,238.000 Person th in Apr 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 19,160.000 Person th for Mar 2025. United States Employment: NH: Black or African American data is updated monthly, averaging 17,987.000 Person th from Jan 2016 (Median) to Apr 2025, with 112 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 19,535.000 Person th in Mar 2023 and a record low of 15,201.000 Person th in Apr 2020. United States Employment: NH: Black or African American data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.G: Current Population Survey: Employment.

In 2023, the unemployment rate of African Americans in the United States stood at 5.5 percent. This was over the national average of 3.6 percent.

The high rate of unemployment

There are many reasons why the unemployment rate among minorities is different than the national average. When it comes to African Americans, a large part of this is due to historical events, such as slavery and the struggle for civil rights, as well as the number of Black families living below the poverty level. Additionally, in 2019, for every 100,000 of the population, there were 2,203 Black men in prison. This high rate of imprisonment can contribute to the unemployment rate for African Americans, since having been in prison can reduce one’s chances of finding a job once released.

Earning differences

African Americans also make less money than other ethnicities in the United States. In 2020, the median weekly earnings of African Americans were 794 U.S. dollars, compared to Asians, who made 1,310 U.S. dollars per week, and whites, who made 1,003 U.S. dollars per week. While the African American unemployment rate may be low, it is clear that much has to change in order to achieve full equality.

In 2024, about 62.7 percent of the Asian community was employed. The highest employment rate was found among Mexican-Americans, at 64.1 percent, and the lowest employment rate was found among Puerto Ricans, at 55.2 percent. In total, around 60 percent of all working-age Americans were employed at this time.

As of fall 2020, about 10,878 Black or African American women were employed as graduate assistants at degree-granting postsecondary institutions in the United States. This is compared to 6,275 Black or African American men who were employed as graduate assistants.

United States WE: Age 16 & Over: No. of Workers: Black or African American (BA) data was reported at 14,902.000 Person th in Mar 2020. This records a decrease from the previous number of 15,463.000 Person th for Dec 2019. United States WE: Age 16 & Over: No. of Workers: Black or African American (BA) data is updated quarterly, averaging 12,501.000 Person th from Mar 2000 (Median) to Mar 2020, with 81 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 15,843.000 Person th in Sep 2019 and a record low of 11,375.000 Person th in Mar 2010. United States WE: Age 16 & Over: No. of Workers: Black or African American (BA) data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.G030: Current Population Survey: Usual Weekly Earnings.

Employment: Female: NH: Black or African American data was reported at 9,843.000 Person th in Apr 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 9,903.000 Person th for Mar 2025. Employment: Female: NH: Black or African American data is updated monthly, averaging 9,501.500 Person th from Jan 2016 (Median) to Apr 2025, with 112 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 10,222.000 Person th in Apr 2023 and a record low of 8,080.000 Person th in Apr 2020. Employment: Female: NH: Black or African American data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.G: Current Population Survey: Employment.

Employment: Male: NH: Black or African American data was reported at 9,395.000 Person th in Apr 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 9,257.000 Person th for Mar 2025. Employment: Male: NH: Black or African American data is updated monthly, averaging 8,460.500 Person th from Jan 2016 (Median) to Apr 2025, with 112 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 9,474.000 Person th in Mar 2023 and a record low of 7,121.000 Person th in Apr 2020. Employment: Male: NH: Black or African American data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.G: Current Population Survey: Employment.

United States - Labor Force Participation Rate - 20 Yrs. & over, Black or African American Men was 69.20% in April of 2025, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Labor Force Participation Rate - 20 Yrs. & over, Black or African American Men reached a record high of 79.90 in June of 1972 and a record low of 63.20 in April of 2020. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Labor Force Participation Rate - 20 Yrs. & over, Black or African American Men - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on June of 2025.

United States Unemployment Rate: NH: Black or African American data was reported at 5.800 % in Apr 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 6.000 % for Mar 2025. United States Unemployment Rate: NH: Black or African American data is updated monthly, averaging 6.600 % from Jan 2016 (Median) to Apr 2025, with 112 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 16.600 % in May 2020 and a record low of 4.400 % in Apr 2023. United States Unemployment Rate: NH: Black or African American data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.G: Current Population Survey: Unemployment Rate.

Graph and download economic data for Employed full time: Usual weekly nominal earnings (third quartile): Wage and salary workers: Less than a High School diploma: 25 years and over: Black or African American: Men (LEU0252938200A) from 2000 to 2020 about third quartile, secondary schooling, secondary, full-time, African-American, 25 years +, males, salaries, earnings, workers, education, wages, employment, and USA.

Between 2020 and 2023, the highest share of total new hires in the professional workforce of PwC in the United States were white. Non-white new hires were significantly more represented in comparison to the overall racial distribution of the firm, however the share of Black or African American new hires never totaled more than 11 percent in this time period.

In its first report on employee diversity, Hearst revealed that whilst its U.S.-based workforce is split almost evenly when it comes to gender, 73 percent of all U.S. employees were white. Around five percent of staff at manager level or above were Black, African American, Hispanic, or Latino, and eight percent were Asian.

Graph and download economic data for Employed full time: Median usual weekly real earnings: Wage and salary workers: 16 years and over: Black or African American (LEU0252884600Q) from Q1 2000 to Q1 2025 about full-time, African-American, salaries, workers, earnings, 16 years +, wages, median, real, employment, and USA.

Vice Media Group revealed in a 2020 report on diversity and inclusion that 58.01 percent of its employees in the United States were white, down from 62 percent in the previous year. Meanwhile, the percentage of Black or African American employees grew slightly during the same time period, and there was also a marginally higher share of Latinx people working for Vice in 2020 than in the previous year.

United States Unemployment Rate: Female: NH: Black or African American data was reported at 5.300 % in Apr 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 4.800 % for Mar 2025. United States Unemployment Rate: Female: NH: Black or African American data is updated monthly, averaging 6.400 % from Jan 2016 (Median) to Apr 2025, with 112 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 17.200 % in May 2020 and a record low of 4.100 % in Apr 2023. United States Unemployment Rate: Female: NH: Black or African American data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.G: Current Population Survey: Unemployment Rate.

United States Unemployment: Black or African American data was reported at 1,287.000 Person th in Apr 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1,380.000 Person th for Mar 2025. United States Unemployment: Black or African American data is updated monthly, averaging 1,591.500 Person th from Jan 1972 (Median) to Apr 2025, with 640 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3,285.000 Person th in May 2020 and a record low of 745.000 Person th in Oct 1973. United States Unemployment: Black or African American data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.G: Current Population Survey: Unemployment.

United States Unemployment Rate: Male: NH: Black or African American data was reported at 6.200 % in Apr 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 7.100 % for Mar 2025. United States Unemployment Rate: Male: NH: Black or African American data is updated monthly, averaging 7.300 % from Jan 2016 (Median) to Apr 2025, with 112 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 16.100 % in Jun 2020 and a record low of 4.700 % in Apr 2023. United States Unemployment Rate: Male: NH: Black or African American data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.G: Current Population Survey: Unemployment Rate.

In 2022, more than four out of five (**** percent of) advertising and promotions managers in the United States identified as white. Almost ** percent were Black or African American. That same year, nearly half of ad and promotions managers in the U.S. were female.

United States - Employment-Population Ratio - 20 Yrs. & over, Black or African American Men was 64.90% in May of 2025, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Employment-Population Ratio - 20 Yrs. & over, Black or African American Men reached a record high of 74.40 in December of 1973 and a record low of 53.00 in April of 2020. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Employment-Population Ratio - 20 Yrs. & over, Black or African American Men - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on July of 2025.

Sex By Age By Employment Status For The Population 16 Years And Over (Black Or African American Alone)https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=C23002BSurvey/Program:American Community SurveyUniverse:Black or African American alone population 16 years and overYear:2020Estimates:5-YearTable ID:C23002B