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.

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

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.

As of the second quarter of 2025, the unemployment rate for people of white ethnicity in the United Kingdom was 3.8 percent, the lowest of the provided ethnic groups in this quarter. By contrast, the unemployment rate for people in the Pakistani ethnic group was 12.7 percent.

Graph and download economic data for Unemployment Rate - White (LNS14000003) from Jan 1954 to Aug 2025 about white, 16 years +, household survey, unemployment, rate, and USA.

Unemployment rate of LWIA compared at state and national levels

Shows the population, civilian labor force, unemployed, and unemployment rate for people aged 16 years and older by race and ethnicity in New York State and its Labor Market Regions.

In 2023, around 1.48 million people of Hispanic or Latin origin were unemployed. In total in the United States, there were around six million people who were unemployed in 2023.

Statewide VA data on the demographic and economic characteristics of the labor force are published on an annual-average basis from the Current Population Survey (CPS), the sample survey of households used to calculate the U.S. unemployment rate. For VA state ,employment status data are tabulated for 67 sex, race, Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, marital status, and detailed age categories and evaluated against a minimum base, calculated to reflect an expected maximum coefficient of variation (CV) of 50 percent, to determine reliability for publication

Graph and download economic data for Unemployment Rate - 20 Yrs. & over, Black or African American Men (LNS14000031) from Jan 1972 to Aug 2025 about 20 years +, African-American, males, household survey, unemployment, rate, and USA.

This dataset shows the population, civilian labor force, unemployed, and unemployment rate for people aged 16 years and older by race and ethnicity in New York State and its Labor Market Regions..

Splitgraph serves as an HTTP API that lets you run SQL queries directly on this data to power Web applications. For example:

See the Splitgraph documentation for more information.

This statistic shows the distribution of the unemployed population in the United States in 2011 by race and ethnicity. 20 percent of the unemployed population in the United States were black or African American in 2011.

Characteristics of the Insured Unemployed. This dataset provides information on the race and ethnicity composition of unemployment insurance claimants. The data are based on those who file a continued claim in the week containing the 19th of the month, which reflects unemployment during the week containing the 12th. This corresponds with the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Current Population Survey. (Source: ETA-203)

2004 to 2021 Virginia Employment Status of the Civilian Non-Institutional Population by Sex, by Race, Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, and detailed by Age, by Year. Annual averages, numbers in thousands.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; Local Area Unemployment Statistics, Expanded State Employment Status Demographic Data Data accessed from the Bureau of Labor Statistics website (https://www.bls.gov/lau/ex14tables.htm)

Statewide data on the demographic and economic characteristics of the labor force are published on an annual-average basis from the Current Population Survey (CPS), the sample survey of households used to calculate the U.S. unemployment rate (https://www.bls.gov/cps/home.htm). For each state and the District of Columbia, employment status data are tabulated for 67 sex, race, Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, marital status, and detailed age categories and evaluated against a minimum base, calculated to reflect an expected maximum coefficient of variation (CV) of 50 percent, to determine reliability for publication.

The CPS sample was redesigned in 2014–15 to reflect the distribution of the population as of the 2010 Census. At the same time, BLS developed improved techniques for calculating minimum bases. These changes resulted in generally higher minimum bases of unemployment, leading to the publication of fewer state-demographic groups beginning in 2015. The most notable impact was on the detailed age categories, particularly the teenage and age 65 and older groups. In an effort to extend coverage, BLS introduced a version of the expanded state employment status demographic table with intermediate age categories, collapsing the seven categories historically included down to three. Ages 16–19 and 20–24 were combined into a 16–24 year-old category, ages 25–34, 35–44, and 45–54 were combined into a 25–54 year-old category, and ages 55–64 and 65 and older were combined into a 55-years-and-older category. These intermediate age data are tabulated for the total population, as well as the four race and ethnicity groups, and then are evaluated against the unemployment minimum bases. The more detailed age categories continue to be available in the main version of the expanded table, where the minimum base was met.

Additional information on the uses and limitations of statewide data from the CPS can be found in the document Notes on Using Current Population Survey (https://www.bls.gov/lau/notescps.htm) Subnational Data and in Appendix B of the bulletin Geographic Profile of Employment and Unemployment (https://www.bls.gov/opub/geographic-profile/home.htm).

Graph and download economic data for Unemployment Rate - 16-19 Yrs., Black or African American (LNS14000018) from Jan 1972 to Aug 2025 about 16 to 19 years, African-American, household survey, unemployment, rate, and USA.

ACS 1-year estimates are based on data collected over one calendar year, offering more current information but with a higher margin of error. ACS 5-year estimates combine five years of data, providing more reliable information but less current. Both are based on probability samples. Some racial and ethnic categories are suppressed to avoid misleading estimates when the relative standard error exceeds 30%.

Data Source: American Community Survey (ACS) 1- & 5-Year Estimates

Why This Matters

Employment is the main source of income for most people. For many families and individuals, unemployment threatens access to basic needs, such as food, housing, transportation, health care, and education, among others.

Nationally, Black workers and workers of color, on average, experience persistently higher unemployment rates than white workers. Racist policies and practices, including segregation, employment discrimination, and inequities in the criminal justice system have undermined job security for workers of color.

The District's Response

Initiatives that support residents in career advancement and their efforts to secure sustainable employment through education and training support, such as Career MAP, Advanced Technical Centers (ATC), and the DC Infrastructure Academy, among other programs and services.

Administering federal and local safety net programs that provide temporary cash and health benefits to help residents experiencing unemployment and related economic hardship meet their basic needs, including unemployment insurance, Medicaid, TANF For District Families, SNAP, etc.

Programs to remove barriers employment for returning citizens, such as Pathways to Work and the Returning Citizens Access to Jobs Grant.

Ecuador Unemployment Rate: Other Ethnicity data was reported at 17.249 % in Jun 2019. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.000 % for Mar 2019. Ecuador Unemployment Rate: Other Ethnicity data is updated quarterly, averaging 0.000 % from Dec 2013 (Median) to Jun 2019, with 23 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 17.249 % in Jun 2019 and a record low of 0.000 % in Mar 2019. Ecuador Unemployment Rate: Other Ethnicity data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Institute of Statistics and Census. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Ecuador – Table EC.G025: ENEMDU: Unemployment Rate.

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.

Labour force characteristic estimates by visible minority group, region, age group, and gender.

Reason for Unemployment Data by Ethnicity and Race 2019-2020

  Current Population Survey Results showing unemployment data broken out by ethnicity detailing the reason for unemployment. Presented in thousands; non seasonally adjusted, for the second quarter in 2019 and 2020. About the BLS Unemployment Data including Current Population Survey Demographic Breakdowns: Links to several different datasets, including Current Population Survey results showing seasonally adjusted unemployment data broken out by ethnicity and age, reason for unemployment, and duration of employment prior to unemployment for years including 2017-2019.  Other datasets show over-the-year percent change in the third month's employment level and taxable wages by industry for a given quarter at the County, State, and MSA level yearly from 1990 - present.
  Geography Level: NationalItem Vintage: 2019-2020
  Update Frequency: N/AAgency: BLSAvailable File Type: Excel 

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