Graph and download economic data for Unemployment Rate - Black or African American (LNS14000006) from Jan 1972 to Feb 2025 about African-American, 16 years +, household survey, unemployment, rate, and USA.

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.

Graph and download economic data for Unemployment Level - 20 Yrs. & over, Black or African American Men (LNU03000031) from Jan 1972 to Feb 2025 about 20 years +, males, African-American, household survey, unemployment, and USA.

United States - Unemployment Rate - Black or African American was 6.00% in February of 2025, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Unemployment Rate - Black or African American reached a record high of 21.20 in January of 1983 and a record low of 4.80 in April of 2023. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Unemployment Rate - Black or African American - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on March of 2025.

In 2024, six percent of the Black or African-American population in the United States were unemployed, the highest unemployment rate of any ethnicity. In 2024, the national unemployment rate stood at four percent.

United States Unemployment Rate: Black or African American: Female data was reported at 5.600 % in Feb 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 5.400 % for Jan 2025. United States Unemployment Rate: Black or African American: Female data is updated monthly, averaging 10.900 % from Jan 1972 (Median) to Feb 2025, with 638 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 21.100 % in Jun 1983 and a record low of 4.000 % in Apr 2023. United States Unemployment Rate: Black or African American: Female 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.G037: Current Population Survey: Unemployment Rate.

Graph and download economic data for Unemployment Level - 16-19 Yrs., Black or African American (LNU03000018) from Jan 1972 to Feb 2025 about 16 to 19 years, African-American, household survey, unemployment, and USA.

United States - Unemployment Rate - 20 Yrs. & over, Black or African American Men was 6.10% in March of 2022, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Unemployment Rate - 20 Yrs. & over, Black or African American Men reached a record high of 21.60 in January of 1983 and a record low of 4.80 in November of 2019. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Unemployment Rate - 20 Yrs. & over, Black or African American Men - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on March of 2025.

United States Unemployment Rate: Black or African American data was reported at 6.100 % in Feb 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 6.400 % for Jan 2025. United States Unemployment Rate: Black or African American data is updated monthly, averaging 11.100 % from Jan 1972 (Median) to Feb 2025, with 638 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 21.700 % in Jun 1983 and a record low of 4.400 % in Apr 2023. United States Unemployment Rate: 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.G037: Current Population Survey: Unemployment Rate.

In 2023, 1.21 million Black or African American individuals in the United States were unemployed. This is a decrease from the previous year, but has yet to reach pre-pandemic lows.

The unemployment rate for people ages 16 to 24 in the United States in 202024 23 was 10 percent. However, this rate was much lower for people aged 45 and over, at 2.9 percent. U.S. unemployment The unemployment rate in the United States varies based on several factors, such as race, gender, and level of education. Black and African-American individuals had the highest unemployment rate in 2021 out of any ethnicity, and people who had less than a high school diploma had the highest unemployment rate by education level. Alaska is consistently the state with the highest unemployment rate, although the El Centro, California metropolitan area was the area with the highest unemployment rate in the country in 2019. Additionally, in August 2022, farming, fishing, and forestry occupations had the highest unemployment rate in the United States Unemployment rate The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics is the agency that researches and calculates the unemployment rate in the United States. Unemployment rises during recessions, which causes the cost of social welfare programs to increase. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says unemployed people are those who are jobless, have looked for employment within the last four weeks, and are free to work.

In 1990, the unemployment rate of the United States stood at 5.6 percent. Since then there have been many significant fluctuations to this number - the 2008 financial crisis left millions of people without work, as did the COVID-19 pandemic. By the end of 2022 and throughout 2023, the unemployment rate came to 3.6 percent, the lowest rate seen for decades. However, 2024 saw an increase up to four percent. For monthly updates on unemployment in the United States visit either the monthly national unemployment rate here, or the monthly state unemployment rate here. Both are seasonally adjusted. UnemploymentUnemployment is defined as a situation when an employed person is laid off, fired or quits his work and is still actively looking for a job. Unemployment can be found even in the healthiest economies, and many economists consider an unemployment rate at or below five percent to mean there is 'full employment' within an economy. If former employed persons go back to school or leave the job to take care of children they are no longer part of the active labor force and therefore not counted among the unemployed. Unemployment can also be the effect of events that are not part of the normal dynamics of an economy. Layoffs can be the result of technological progress, for example when robots replace workers in automobile production. Sometimes unemployment is caused by job outsourcing, due to the fact that employers often search for cheap labor around the globe and not only domestically. In 2022, the tech sector in the U.S. experienced significant lay-offs amid growing economic uncertainty. In the fourth quarter of 2022, more than 70,000 workers were laid off, despite low unemployment nationwide. The unemployment rate in the United States varies from state to state. In 2021, California had the highest number of unemployed persons with 1.38 million out of work.

United States - Unemployment Rate - 20 Yrs. & over, Black or African American Men was 5.50% in February of 2025, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Unemployment Rate - 20 Yrs. & over, Black or African American Men reached a record high of 20.70 in December of 1982 and a record low of 4.60 in April of 2023. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Unemployment Rate - 20 Yrs. & over, Black or African American Men - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on March of 2025.

United States Unemployment Rate: Black or African American: Male data was reported at 6.700 % in Feb 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 7.600 % for Jan 2025. United States Unemployment Rate: Black or African American: Male data is updated monthly, averaging 11.450 % from Jan 1972 (Median) to Feb 2025, with 638 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 23.300 % in Jan 1983 and a record low of 4.700 % in Apr 2023. United States Unemployment Rate: Black or African American: Male 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.G037: Current Population Survey: Unemployment Rate.

In 2023, about 23.51 percent of unemployed Black or African American individuals had been jobless for at least 27 weeks. This was slightly higher amongst Asian individuals, at 23.55 percent. See the monthly unemployment rate in the U.S. here.

In the third quarter of 2024, 7.6 percent of the black population in Brazil was unemployed. The unemployment rate for Pardo Brazilians was approximately seven percent, while for whites it was five percent.

United States - Unemployment Rate - 20 Yrs. & over, Black or African American Women was 5.40% in February of 2025, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Unemployment Rate - 20 Yrs. & over, Black or African American Women reached a record high of 18.20 in January of 1983 and a record low of 4.20 in August of 2019. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Unemployment Rate - 20 Yrs. & over, Black or African American Women - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on March of 2025.

United States - Unemployment Level - 20 Yrs. & over, Black or African American Men was 723.00000 Thous. of Persons in January of 2025, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Unemployment Level - 20 Yrs. & over, Black or African American Men reached a record high of 1573.00000 in March of 2010 and a record low of 236.00000 in December of 1973. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Unemployment Level - 20 Yrs. & over, Black or African American Men - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on March of 2025.

Graph and download economic data for Unemployment Level - 20 Yrs. & over, Black or African American Women (LNU03000032) from Jan 1972 to Feb 2025 about 20 years +, females, African-American, household survey, unemployment, and USA.

In the second quarter of 2024, the unemployment rate among Black South Africans was 36.9 percent, marking a year-on-year change of 0.8 percent compared to the second quarter of 2023. On the other hand, the unemployment rate among white South Africans was 7.9 percent in the second quarter of 2024, with a 0.5 percent year-on-year change. Unemployment prevalent among youth and women The unemployment rate is the share of the labor force population that is unemployed, while the labor force includes individuals who are employed as well as those who are unemployed but looking for work. South Africa is struggling to absorb its youth into the job market. For instance, the unemployment rate among young South Africans aged 15-24 years reached a staggering 60.7 percent in the second quarter of 2023. Furthermore, women had higher unemployment rates than men. Since the start of 2016, the unemployment rate of women has been consistently more than that of men, reaching close to 36 percent compared to 30 percent, respectively. A new minimum wage and most paying jobs      In South Africa, a new minimum hourly wage went into effect on March 1, 2022. The minimum salary reached 23.19 South African rand per hour (1.44 U.S. dollars per hour), up from 21.69 South African rand per hour (1.35 U.S. dollars per hour) in 2021. In addition, the preponderance of employed South Africans worked between 40 and 45 hours weekly in 2021. Individuals holding Executive Management and Change Management jobs were the highest paid in the country, with salaries averaging 74,000 U.S. dollars per year.